Released as an EP on the stoner rock specialty label Man's Ruin, Wanted Dead or Alive consists of five Altamont tracks on an eight-song CD split with fellow San Francisco musicians Acid King. The EP has Altamont paying homage to North American '70s rockers like Pat Travers and Rick Derringer along with their more legendary European metal counterparts Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. The bluesy hard rock attitude with which Altamont so strongly identify is the defining element that separated late-'90s stoner rock from its garage and doom rock cousins; Wanted Dead or Alive highlights the band's potent display of hard rock's new-world influence. Following the ultra-heavy Acid King as they do on this CD, Altamont might sound a little thin to listeners expecting bass-heavy, slo-fi meanderings; but the band does manage to keep the stoner torch burning with plenty of low-down riffs and sound-effect explorations. Starting with its moody intro and evolving into a multi-layered guitar symphony, standout track Casino explodes with chiseled, scowling riffs and vocals. Extensive guitar echoes and vintage synth whistles, rumbles, and chirps comprise the bookend tracks Pluto Washington's Introduction and Pluto Closes Shop. With these whirling noise experimentations, and three loose, lively guitar stomps, Altamont gives Wanted Dead or Alive a psychedelic, bluesy timelessness that hard rock fans of any generation can enjoy. ~ Vincent Jeffries, Rovi

1		Pluto Washington's Introduction
2		Sally Greensnake
3		Red Jackson
4		Casino
5		Pluto Closes Shop