Truckfighters
Truckfighters with Crobot, Blackwülf, and The Devil in California. 8:30 p.m., Thursday, March 20, at DNA Lounge. $10-$12; www.dnalounge.com
What is it about the chilly northern reaches of Sweden that inspires so many bands to worship at the desert-rock altar of Kyuss and Fu Manchu? Back in the early '90s, Nordic disciples like Dozer and Spiritual Beggars proved Joshua trees and dry heat weren't required to create compelling, psychedelic stoner grooves. Fellow Swedish outfit Truckfighters didn't form until 2001, but the band has spent the last decade-plus establishing itself as one of the genre's most tuneful purveyors of thunderous, fuzzed-out fury. Heavy touring and a steady rotation of drummers slowed founders Oskar "Ozo" Cedermalm (bass, vocals) and Niklas "Dango" Källgren (guitar) during the five years it took to record their latest effort, Universe. The stellar mix of urgent, riff-driven anthems and intricately layered epics like 13-minute album closer "Mastodont" prove the disc was well worth the wait. This week, Truckfighters play their first S.F. show with like-minded rockers Crobot, The Devil in California, and Blackwülf.