Great Falls - 'The Fever Shed' (Album Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 03/08/2015

Label: Init Records |

Tapes of A Neon God

Right from the first note of “Dressing the Saints”, there is nowhere to hide as the band assault the listener with an abrasive opening salvo of shards of metallic noise. Even when the volume dips during sparse minimal sections, there is always a taut menace to proceedings which feels like it could give way to chaos at any second.

‘The Fever Shed’ CS//DD//LP track listing

01. Dressing The Saints
02. Copper Boneless
03. Cold As Charity
04. A Gathering In The Head
05. Constant Themes Of Concrete
06. Brisance
07. And It Can't Be Stopped
08. Shaped Like Another Man

The Review:

Great Falls make a gnarly, ugly racket. This is hardly surprising given the pedigree of this Seattle trio, with members having done time in cult concerns such as Kiss It Goodbye and Playing Enemy.

The band’s sound is a perfect balance of precision and dissonance. Shane Mehling and Phil Petrocelli provide a rock solid rhythm section. Demian Johnston’s guitar sits above this, flitting between sharp, complex riffs, damaged chords and squalling feedback, the perfect accompaniment to his frenzied and frayed vocals. The overall effect is somewhere between the mathematical heaviness of Keelhaul and the sleazy belligerence of the Jesus Lizard.

“The Fever Shed” comprises eight songs over 30 minutes but manages to deliver a weighty impact over its short duration. What it lacks in sonic variety it more than makes up for in relentless onslaught. Right from the first note of “Dressing the Saints”, there is nowhere to hide as the band assault the listener with an abrasive opening salvo of shards of metallic noise. Even when the volume dips during sparse minimal sections, there is always a taut menace to proceedings which feels like it could give way to chaos at any second.

Great Falls save the best for last with “Shaped Like Another Man”. The track lurches into life with a lumbering, ominous riff, ebbing and flowing towards a climax where it feels like the band are fighting with themselves to reach ever higher levels of intensity. It brings the album to a close in fine style, allowing the listener to finally draw breath.

 Anyone who likes their riffs with a strong dose of punk aggression and underground dirt will find a lot to love in “The Fever Shed”. It’s an addictive burst of spiky energy that will keep drawing you back in for more.

‘The Fever Shed’ is available here

FFO: Keelhaul, KEN mode, The Jesus Lizard, Converge

Band info: bandcamp | facebook