Primitive Ring is a new Los Angeles-based power trio that features Bert Hoover on bass and vocals, Charles Moothart on guitar and vocals, and Jon Modaff on drums. The three share solid backgrounds in prior bands (more info below) but are kicking it into high heavy rock gear with their self-titled full-length debut, which comes out May 15 on vinyl and digital through In the Red Records. The album’s 11 songs are a fuzzy, psych-tinged, hard-rocking good time.
Along with Primitive Ring, Bert Hoover’s credits include Cab 20, GROOP, Mind Meld, Jesus Sons, and Hooveriii. Charles Moothart has contributed to Fuzz, the Ty Segall Band, GØGGS, The Preverts, Charlie & the Moonhearts, and CFM. Jon Modaff has taken part in Sweet Country Meat Boys, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, GROOP, and Hooveriii.
This supergroup-ish joining of forces commenced in 2024 and the following year the band cut four 45s beginning with “In the Ground” b/w “Golden in Your Eyes” on Greenway Records, followed by “Poisonous Gift” b/w “TV City” on In the Red, then “Luck” b/w “I’ve Been Waiting For You” via The Reverberation Appreciation Society, and finally “Rolling Greed” b/w “Cocaine Man” on Fuzz Club.
These are all worthy efforts that establish the extended pummeling of this full-length set, which finds Primitive Ring ramping it up a few tangible notches, as opener “Fire and Brimstone” swaggers with an almost glam punk feel. “The Last Gold Mine” extends this heavy groove and then “Lies from the Other Side” picks up the pace and solidifies the power trio stature with an utter torcher.
“Paid” reestablishes a less torrid heavy rock saunter complete with bursts of guitar explosiveness that leads into the scorch-stomp of “Sold a Lie,” with a killer down shift late in the track that reinforces the band’s tight handle on dynamics. Next is the raw blitz-raver “Heads Will Roll” and then the prime guitar blister of “Call Me What You Please.”
With “Griefsong,” Primitive Ring really let their collective dexterity flow with another groove strutter, the band not just embracing the spirit of an earlier hard-rocking era but extending it. “The Callous Man” accentuates the psych angle before ramping matters upward and stretching it all out.
Reminiscent of a few of the 45 cuts, “Our Oblivion” adds some acoustic strum to the mix (the intensity eventually ratchets up), and then “Golden” delivers a swank ripper of a finale before gliding out with panache. Altogether, this is a fleet bruiser of a debut for Primitive Ring.
GRADED ON A CURVE:
A-
