Wolfmother (Deluxe Version)

With their eponymous four-track EP, Australia's Wolfmother join likeminded acts such as Witchcraft and Dead Meadow in a quest to re-create the embryonic heavy metal of the late '60s and early '70s as if Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer and Sir Lord Baltimore were their peers — not old enough to be their grandfathers. Powerfully fuzzy guitar riffs, serpentine basslines, thumping percussion, echoed, warbling vocals, and even the occasional Hammond organ provide the fundamental building blocks for the youthful trio's convincingly Jurassic creations; and the impressive opening tandem of "Dimension" (complete with occasionally off-key, Ozzy-aping screams) and "Woman" carry off the illusion so authentically, that not even wizened old-timers are likely to uncover the ruse. Next number "Apple Tree" diverges from the basic template just a tad by interspersing a jolt of psychedelic garage rock into its otherwise familiarly ponderous sections (reminiscent of Pentagram), and the grand finale intended by "The White Unicorn" is largely achieved thanks to surprisingly pretty, chiming guitar melodies à la Led Zeppelin. In sum, Wolfmother aren't claiming any measure of originality here — they're just offering a form of time travel.