Thee Tsunamis‘ Delirium and Dark Waters 7-inch on Magnetic South is just so much fun, I can’t believe they haven’t hit the Terminal Boredom hype machine. The songs aren’t scary — you look at the cover art and song titles, and you immediately assume Cramps-ish psychobilly or Deadbolt-style death surf — but instead, the trio works in a lo-fi garage vein with a shitload of twang to work their atmospheric magic.
There’s some swampy surf vibes going on instrumentally — and they’re really good, too. Thee Tsunamis rock a wave of late-night creepiness enhanced by the sneer in the voices of Betsy, Sharlene, and Josie. Opening cut “Haunted House” sounds like the trio’s singing from the perspective of the house’s denizens, daring you to risk a trip through the front door.
The whole thing comes together on the last track of the EP, “Psycho,” which features a ripping guitar from Betsy and surprisingly melodic vocals in the fading seconds of the song. You get the feeling that the band members can sing, as opposed to working in shouts and screams, and it’s a cool little left turn.
All of the songs are worth hearing, though, and the album artwork and green vinyl really tie everything together. The jacket looks like something to a lost ’50s b-movie, perhaps featuring Arch Hall, Jr.
You can buy Thee Tsunamis’ Delirum and Dark Waters 7-inch from the Magnetic South store. You can also snag their A Goodbad Man is Hard to Find cassette, while you’re at it.