What a strange band these guys are...signed up by the Def American label, MOR caused quite a stir (the band formed in 1981 and this record is their debut seven years later) with their brand of grand hard rock. This won't appeal to everyone but once it's got it's hooks in you it becomes a cult masterpiece, experimenting with that retro '70s style of dark, boogie rock all wielded together by huge riffs and the coolest of grooves. I'm hearing so many influences here, from Roy Orbison, Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Zeppelin, Sabbath, The Cult. The super-cool chugger 'Domino' has such a timeless feel, stunning vocal melodies and a mega catchy chorus, the whole cauldron created by these guys feels so familiar in taste yet somehow so unique. The '70s blues and soaring psyche of 'The Blue Garden' reminds me of Cream meets The Cult (Cream's Ginger Baker was in the band at one point), and it's all so effortless, the album grows more and more with every spin, becoming hypnotic like a sinister magic show, taking the listener high then low into unusual places. Unfair to call it alterno-metal but it rocks big time, driving anthems, stadium fillers in fact, 'Gettin High' has a bluesy shuffle and 'The Candy Song' reminds me of a psychedelic Danzig!! The bar room funk of 'Magical Spell' and the twang-stomp of 'Eyes Of Texas' take the band through varying styles, and by the time the twisted grunge of 'Sleepwalkin' lazily oozes into the room, you'll be fully mesmerized by this record. From swirling organs to Zeppish occult oddness, it's so hard to pigeon hole and yet reminds me of so much, from The Doors to ZZ Top in places, and yet with such a wicked edge. Hard to fathom where this sort of stuff comes from but has all the traits of everlasting folklore, embedding itself into the walls like blood into a stone. Give it a try...Thursday 3 February 2011
Masters Of Reality - Masters Of Reality (1988)
What a strange band these guys are...signed up by the Def American label, MOR caused quite a stir (the band formed in 1981 and this record is their debut seven years later) with their brand of grand hard rock. This won't appeal to everyone but once it's got it's hooks in you it becomes a cult masterpiece, experimenting with that retro '70s style of dark, boogie rock all wielded together by huge riffs and the coolest of grooves. I'm hearing so many influences here, from Roy Orbison, Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Zeppelin, Sabbath, The Cult. The super-cool chugger 'Domino' has such a timeless feel, stunning vocal melodies and a mega catchy chorus, the whole cauldron created by these guys feels so familiar in taste yet somehow so unique. The '70s blues and soaring psyche of 'The Blue Garden' reminds me of Cream meets The Cult (Cream's Ginger Baker was in the band at one point), and it's all so effortless, the album grows more and more with every spin, becoming hypnotic like a sinister magic show, taking the listener high then low into unusual places. Unfair to call it alterno-metal but it rocks big time, driving anthems, stadium fillers in fact, 'Gettin High' has a bluesy shuffle and 'The Candy Song' reminds me of a psychedelic Danzig!! The bar room funk of 'Magical Spell' and the twang-stomp of 'Eyes Of Texas' take the band through varying styles, and by the time the twisted grunge of 'Sleepwalkin' lazily oozes into the room, you'll be fully mesmerized by this record. From swirling organs to Zeppish occult oddness, it's so hard to pigeon hole and yet reminds me of so much, from The Doors to ZZ Top in places, and yet with such a wicked edge. Hard to fathom where this sort of stuff comes from but has all the traits of everlasting folklore, embedding itself into the walls like blood into a stone. Give it a try...
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