Howlin Rain celebrates ’70s rock

Upon but one spin of the new Howlin Rain disc, "The Russian Wilds," our pants were rendered bell-bottoms, our hair grew like overfertilized grass and our Toyota Corolla was magically transformed into a bitchin' orange van with a wizard riding a lion painted on the side.

Such is the awesome power of this buffet of '70s rock revivalism.

Frontman Ethan Miller does more howling than the band's namesake, singing of nuclear winter and walking through stone, over bass lines that buzz like a wasps' nest, never-ending guitar solos and organ fills that would do Jon Lord proud.

Rick Rubin executive produced "Wilds," and you can bet it added a few inches to the dude's beard.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@
reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.