Heavy Metal Textbooks

TRIPLE SHOT

LORD FOWL: GLORIOUS BABYLON

ELITE RETRO HARD ROCK

I've already called an album a ten out of ten this year, and here's another one.  Lord Fowl will remind you of the best of 1970s hard rock.  This album has the same kind of authenticity as releases from Crypt Trip and Siena Root.  Check out "The Grammercy Riffs", my favorite tune of the new decade so far: (remember how controversial The Warriors was when it came out? It was blamed for inciting several murders)

Now here's "In Search Of", with a hint of funk:

Lord Fowl are from New Haven, Connecticut and are:

Jon Conine: bass, guitar
Vechel Jaynes: guitar, vocals
Mike Pellegrino: guitar, vocals
Michael Petrucci: drums, percussion

THE HEAVY EYES: LOVE LIKE MACHINES

BEST HEAVY EYES ALBUM TO DATE

The Heavy Eyes have managed to sound different without sounding different, if that's possible.  They still have that Fu-Manchu style heavy fuzz sound but have managed to diversify their songwriting in impressive fashion.  There's quite an assortment of great riffs and moments on this album, and I feel it's a bit more aggressive than past releases as well.  Here's one that made my best songs of January - April list, "A Cat Named Haku".   

Sounds silly but what a great groove:

And here's "The Profession", which epitomizes bad-ass hard rock guitar playing.  This is exactly the kind of tune you want playing when you pull up to the stop light with your windows down, if you want to be 'the man.'

The Heavy Eyes are from Memphis, Tennessee, and are:

TRIPP SHUMAKE - LEAD VOCALS, ACOUSTIC/ELECTRIC GUITAR
MATTHEW QUALLS - ELECTRIC GUITAR, PERCUSSION, BACKING VOCALS
WALLY ANDERSON - BASS GUITAR
ERIC GARCIA - DRUMS/PERCUSSION

with guests:
JUSTIN TOLAND - GUITAR TRACKING & SOLO (GOD DAMN WOLF MAN)
JUSTIN TRACY - GUITAR SOLO (THE PROFESSION)
CARMEN FOWLKES - PIANO (VERA CRUZ)

The Heavy Eyes are frequently compared with Fu Manchu, although a fan of either band would never confuse the two.  This is a must-own album for stoner-fuzz afficionados.

Speaking of Fu Manchu, . . .

FU MANCHU: FU30, Pt.1

STONER ROYALTY RETURNS

 In addition to frequency modulation, FM stands for Fu Manchu and for Fuzz Masters.  I long for the day when I can hear fuzz masters Fu Manchu on my FM radio.  Tracks 1 and 2 are classic Fu, and really paint this band as ageless.  There's been absolutely no loss of energy or sincerity from these guys since the nineties.  Here's the opening track, "Time Is Going On":

While I prefer track 2 to this, Fu Manchu's
"Takin' It To The Streets" demands to be shared because of its unusual interpretation of the Doobie Brothers classic.

Fu Manchu is comprised of four rock legends:

Scott Hill - Vocals / Guitar
Bob Balch - Lead Guitar
Brad Davis - Bass
Scott Reeder - Drums

-ULTRA