Album
Type: EP
Date
Released: 25/04/2015
Label: Alive
& Breathing Records
‘Avant
Garage’ CD//DD//LP track listing:
1).
Shapeshifter
2).
Smoke Tactics
3).
Vertical Event Horizon
4).
Duke Mongrel
5).
Bohemian Decadence
Gladiators
Eat Fire is
Brian
Kim
Mark Blazer
Curtis Parker
Ian Iddings
Mark Blazer
Curtis Parker
Ian Iddings
Review:
Since
the release of their explosive debut EP in 2008 “Keep The Beat Alive” GEF have
been gaining attention with their intensely passionate live performances. Their
2010 full length, self-titled album, made clear inroads into deeper,
experimental, musical territory, following with the raw and unfiltered
“Psychedelic Hogwash” in 2012 and performing at various festivals including
Chaospalooza they once more emerge from the shadows to uncurl, stretch and
unleash the culmination of over half a decade or aural experimentation upon the
world.
Seattle
based hard-core rockers Gladiators Eat Fire (GEF)
unveil their upcoming record; available from 25th April via
Alive and Breathing Records it features some of their most ambitious material
to date, ferocious, unique and psychedelic it holds a lot of promise.
Recorded
and mixed by renowned engineer Matt Bayles (Mastadon, The Sword, Botch) and
mastered by Ed Brooks (Pearl Jam, Portugal, The Man) they harness all their
talents to throw forth ‘Avant Garage’. A five song offering that transcends
from heavy rock riffs to full on psychadelia smoothly and with aplomb.
‘Shapeshifter’
immediately slaps you in the face with a heavy rock riff, insistent drum work
and sludge filled bass that enrobes the vocals superbly. The stoner rock slant
adds intrigue, the metal screams whilst short lived adding an extra layer to
the already fully loaded base.
‘Smoke
Tactics’ brings an immediate change, yet one that sits well, more
metal screamage and heavy riffs makes this perfect thrash material for anyone
wanting to rage, whining guitar, thumping drums make this one another win. With
hints of exuberance and intoxicating backing tracks, once more this hints at
the psychedelic without hitting full blown off the wall status. Hanging tight
to the rock roots, it shows another dimension to a band that is slowly turning
out to be a revelation.
‘Vertical
Event Horizon’ with an almost sitar like guitar opening backed up with dense
drums, immediately the heavy groove grabs you from the start, with a nod to
classic rock/stoner influences yet fresh and appealing in its approach. Around
half way through the chanting vocals with trimmed down yet substantial backing
refreshes the aural palette demanding attention like a petulant toddler. Stoner
riddled vibes surrounded by a fug of weed smoke; I can almost smell the
patchouli oil. ‘Duke Mongrel’ is a totally different beginning,
almost chilled out in their approach; this adds a nice break to proceedings
before the hefty stuff begins in earnest, this blend works so very well here.
Showcasing each individual talent with riffs, solos, vocals, yet never once
stepping into the egotistical wankery that could have easily captured them.
‘Bohemian
Decadence’ is reminiscent of Baroness at the start, chilled and relaxed, almost
prog like, they offer diluted heaviness easing the listener gently into a full
frontal assault of the senses. An ethereal freak out worthy of being called an
Acid trip with gritty guitar, eerie vocals, adamant drums all working together
to produce a superb ending to what has proven to be an immense record.
GEF
embrace the creepy, they have injected their straight talking, no nonsense
blistering hard rock with a massive dose of psychedelic guitars that weave
their way through every song like lost souls searching for their way
home. A perfectly haunting soundtrack that raises goose bumps from
the vocals alone; repetitive, hollow and distant like they are being sung by
someone trapped for years in a room down a dank deserted hallway. Add the
twisted guitar and dense drums and you are not safe as GEF come to hunt you
down, breathless and covered in dirt from crawling out of their graves.
Words
by: Kat
Hilton
‘Avant
Garage’ is available here
For
more information:
Official: http://gladiatorseatfire.com/
Tweet: https://twitter.com/EatFire
