Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 30/09/2016
Label: Fuzzorama Records |
Century Media Records
All in all, a solid offering; a sound that is current; one that
rocks effortlessly and one that proves regardless of line-up changes Truckfighters
continue to be strong.
“V” CD//DD//LP Track
listing
01. Calm
Before The Storm
02.
Hawkshaw
03. The 1
04.
Gehenna
05. The
Contract
06. Fiend
07.
Storyline
The Review:
With just
7 tracks lasting a smudge over 47 minutes and fresh drummer blood; Truckfighters
offer their fifth studio album, “V”
(I see what you did there you sneaky sods), a journey on their evolutionary
path towards maturity that requires one to switch off pre conceptions, ideas
and judgement and requires the plugging in of headphones and a nice chilled
beverage of choice.
Having
said that in all honesty “Calm Before the
Storm” left me underwhelmed, I
still cannot pinpoint why, it shouldn’t have done. With its Tool-esque
intro, swarthy attitude and an ending which is fuzzier than a tumble dryer’s
lint trap I should have loved it but it wobbled me a little. Fear ye not! “Hawkshaw” is the second little ditty
and quite frankly knocks the spots of the previous number. A powerful bass and
drum intro eases the lugholes to an immense fuzz injection that hits the spot
superbly. With ever flowing peaks and troughs of 0-100 mph in seconds it is Truckfighers
mastery.
As track
3, “The 1”, makes its way through
there is another line-up change with Peter Damin taking the drums; although
subtle, there is a difference- believe it or not more cymbals…who knew that was
possible! “The 1” is a classic Truckfigthers
number; slightly distorted vocals, smooth riffs and an ear blowing assault of a
chorus make it so. For the energy alone it is a clear contender for stand out
song of the album. “Gehenna” the fuzz
gives way to possibly the most satisfying drum roll in existence making this a
veritable time warp of a tune; turning back time it is akin to listening to “Gravity X” all over again. Ok so not as prog like, but the mesmerising vocals
and pacey guitar stand it proud.
As “The Contract” makes its debut with its thundering bass/drum play off building
the track to the properly heavy levels needed; the thick and fuzzy strings
crawl over the senses entwining with the chaotic drums, it kinda shouldn’t work
but it does. It be prog/sludge/fudge/aceballness.
“Fiend”
is
the penultimate track; cheeky, pacey and even more drum rolling perfection make
this a fantastic number. Off all the superbly vocalised songs Ozo has done,
this is the one that demonstrates the incredible range and versatility he has.
The ending can only be described as a co-ordinated pissing contest as the sound
increases, the drums hammer more, the vocals step up, the guitars get beefier.
Everything makes this a superb ending.
Last but
no means least “Storyline” has an
instant shift in style and sound; the vocals are the dominant force here.
Melodious, gravelly and solid. On one hand an easy, relaxed and somewhat calm
offering, on the other a hard core Truckfighters number that shakes the listener
to the core. What a delicious juxtaposition.
All in all, a solid offering; a sound that is current; one that rocks
effortlessly and one that proves regardless of line-up changes Truckfighters
continue to be strong.
