People often toss around the word “pretentious” to describe progressive rock. While the essence of rock n’ roll has relied on carnal desire and hedonism, prog as a genre rarely pursues feeling good at the moment. Be it sophisticated instrumentation, experimental tones, or complex arrangements (or all three at once), progressive rock typically set its sights higher. For traditional rock music fans, prog’s search for an elevated musical experience means those bands can’t be bothered with anything pedestrian like “fun.” But what’s stopping prog from being fun? Or better said, why has prog been tagged with NOT being fun for decades?
I asked myself that specific question when listening to the self-titled album from Doom Gong.
Formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 2022, Doom Gong features 7 self-proclaimed music nerds. Each member plays multiple instruments and comes from different musical backgrounds. But instead of taking the typical route where the best musician takes on the correct role, Doom Gong fuses everyone into one big talent-sharing collective. On paper, one would think that approach would be a mess. However, because of those shared skills, this sub-genre, one the band calls “denim psych,” somehow becomes equally as accessible as pop.
Doom Gong blends psych, shoegaze, jazz, classical, and fuzz for a sound as unique as their name.
Their 2023 self-titled debut begins with “Doom,” a dirge mixing R&B and synth on a bed of relaxed, jazz drums. “Still Hoverin’” continues the lo-fi funk, but with a MBV-esque whispered vocal and a wall of noise. Things get even weirder with “The Gong Rings On,” a tune that sounds like Edgar Winter sitting in with Frank Zappa. From then on out, each song expands upon the one before it, getting both unpredictable and comforting. This bizarre listen sounds like nothing I’ve heard before.
With 7 multi-instrumentalist members, the band can take their show on the road. Doom Gong has risen through the ranks of the indie prog and pysch scenes pretty quickly. They’ve played several US festivals, sharing stages with the likes of The Black Angels, Death Valley Girls, and King Buffalo.
For their first vinyl release, Doom Gong teamed up with the vinyl-only label, Romanus Records.
Run by Brother O Brother frontman, Chris Banta, Romanus Records is no stranger to the genre. Bearded Gentlemen Music has covered quite a few of the label’s releases over the years, and Doom Gong fits right in perfectly with their brand of noise. Clocking in just over 40 minutes, the album is the perfect candidate for a vinyl release, as it feels like a classic album every prog fan would own already.
Back to my original question: What stops progressive rock from being fun?
After listening to Doom Gong several times in a row, I found the answer to be rather obvious. The album absolutely features all the exploration, experimentation, complex arrangements, and instrumentation any good prog record has. But instead of looking down on the average listener, the band intentionally ignores the gatekeepers and focuses on simply making high-quality songs for people who like good music. The lean runtime also makes the album both an easy listen and an excellent gateway to the wider world of progressive rock.
Or whatever “denim psych” is.
Doom Gong is available on vinyl exclusively at RomanusRecords.com