Album Type: EP
Date Released:23/03/2015
Label: Self Released
Highrospliffics – CD Track
Listing
Witchfinder General Finder
March Of The Druids
Buried In Leather
Groan are:
Mazzereth - Vocals
Lindsay Hamilton - Guitars & Backing Vocals
Leigh Jones - Bass & Backing Vocals
Zel Kaute - Drums & Backing Vocals
Lindsay Hamilton - Guitars & Backing Vocals
Leigh Jones - Bass & Backing Vocals
Zel Kaute - Drums & Backing Vocals
Review
London's Groan may have produced
one of the best EP titles of all time. It’s a name so ridiculous
yet so inventive that one would absolutely never tire of reading it.
Surely such majestic titling will have equally as grandiose chops to
back it up?
The four tracks on offer feature a bevy
of ‘old school’, blues infused riffs. ‘Run Out Of Fucks’
kicks things off as they mean to go on, pounding drums and low,
brooding bass being joined by a big old wall of guitar feedback.
Mazzereth’s vocals kick in and goddamn, they really wail, in a
similar vein to 70’s heroes like Bruce Dickinson, soaring, almost
operatic highs. There’s a pleasantly rolling tempo, then a
breakdown with some epically blazing guitar work, before the song
fades into weirdness.
‘Witchfinder General Finder’
features some excellently tight instrumentation amongst the bluesy
70’s worshipping licks. Leigh Jones’s bassline moves organically,
and Zel Kaute’s drums are intuitive and feature a lot of
interesting movement, especially during the drum solo break that’s
intercut by big, statement chords. There’s another guitar solo that
edges close to spacy, psychedelic territory, in a good way. ‘March
Of The Druids’ is arguably the least realised, not having much in
the way of stand out personality compared to the other tracks.
Although it’s ballsy and beefy, it could probably use a little more
cowbell.
But Groan definitely save the best for
last, in the shape of ‘Buried In Leather’. The sleazy main riff
slaps you across the face with a cow-hide glove, and would definitely
induce some dipping-headbanging live. The track ups the ante into a
driving, breakneck riff that carries the song to its end. When
Mazzereth asserts “heavy metal thunder/it’s the only way”
you can’t help but be convinced as things finish with a drum
freakout and plenty of cymbals.
You can pick up ‘Highrospliffics’
for free via Groan’s BandCamp, but for riffs of this quality, put
your hand in your pocket.
Written by Jay Hampshire
Thanks to Cat Jones at Southern Cross PR for the promo.
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