ALBUM REVIEW: Twelve Boar - "No Forgiveness"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full-length

Date Released: 08/09/2017

Label: Independent

If you did not know the trio was from Aldershot, Hampshire, you would swear it was a Southern rock outfit in harder, more contemporary end of the Lynyrd Skynrd vein. Think playful storytelling, arena-rock boogie and contagious rhythms. The group knows its lane and stays in it exceedingly well.

"No Forgiveness" CD//DD track listing

1. Steppin' Up

2. Golden Goose

3. The Curtain Call

4. No Forgiveness

5. Elders From The Deep

6. Snake On A Lead

7. All the Heavy Griftin'

8. Panama

9. Hellspeed Truckin'

The Review:

The world today lives quite a bit in the 'woke' era. Everything said and not said is a statement. The news prompts reactions across the spectrum. The demands on entertainers to make moves of grand cultural and political significance, and the feelings that emerge when there are missteps or silence, seem never bigger than today. Although the world has certainly seen more profound conflicts, such as the World Wars, the conflict in Vietnam and the fall of the Soviet Union, social platforms and a constant media churn have simply amplified what happens around us, including debates and other contentions on a host of matters.

Being part of the world, extreme music worldwide is no exception. Many artists are delivering music that is largely inspired by the state of the globe. Still others give you a sound that is aimed squarely at helping you let off some steam and break away from the gnashing around us.

Formerly known as XII Boar, the United Kingdom's Twelve Boar has a straight-ahead formula: hard rock 'n' roll without the frills. Their previous record, "Beyond The Valley of The Triclops," received positive reviews. And "No Forgiveness"'s opener "Steppin' Up" demonstrates Twelve Boar has no intention of letting up on its groove-blended heavy swing. You will not find a bunch of coded messages. Instead the group drops unmistakably strapping guitars and rugged vocals.

"Snake On A Lead" is among the tracks that will snag you. If you did not know the trio was from Aldershot, Hampshire, you would swear it was a Southern rock outfit in harder, more contemporary end of the Lynyrd Skynrd vein. Think playful storytelling, arena-rock boogie and contagious rhythms. The group knows its lane and stays in it exceedingly well.

The cuts taken in full are of the classic variety, similar to squads like Motorhead, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. "All the Heavy Griftin'" and "Hellspeed Truckin'" are songs befitting the kings, and Twelve Boar will knock you out of your seat with its musical and lyrical proficiency. Additionally, with each of those inspirations, down in the gutter blues informed swaths of their catalogs. Twelve Boar reflects that too, along with a dirty bit of rhythm thrown in. From nu metal-esque rap (in a good way) tossed in on "Golden Goose" to the roadhouse affectivity in "No Forgiveness," the band declines to just make old-school tributes, and seems intent to blaze its own trail.

Billed partly as a party band, Twelve Boar unquestionably qualifies. Hard rock fans especially will find far more to love too.

"No Forgiveness" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

XII BOAR - Pitworthy (Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: March 09^th 2015

Label: Self Released

Pitworthy – Track Listing

Sharpshooter

Young Man

Crushing The P

The Schaeffer Boogie

Pitworthy

Crawdaddy Blues

Chicken Hawk

Battle Boar

Rock City

Quint

Bio

Speeding at you like an out of control train, XII Boar (pronounced 'Twelve Boar') have been tearing a new one into the stoner/sludge/metal scene over the last few years. The three-piece wrecking ball from Aldershot, Hampshire, blast their way into your skull with ear-splitting leads, sonic riffs, filthy bass lines, whiskey drenched vocals and a sweet southern groove.

Combining Motorhead’s swagger, Sabbath’s downtrodden doom and the swinging crunch of Corrosion of Conformity – these Hampshire louts lay down a colossal slab of rock n' roll-infused groove metal that fuels even the greatest parties.

With their debut album set to be released early 2015, XII Boar are on track to be unstoppable.

Pure rock and roll for the heavier generation.

Members

Tommy Hardrocks - Guitar & Vocals

Adam "Bad-Dog" Thomas - Bass & Backing Vocals

Dave Wilbraham - Drums

Review:

XII Boar (aka Twelve Boar) have slowly been building up their reputation within the UK Sludge/Stoner Metal scene over the last few years now. They’ve released a few releases over the years and they have performed a ton of great gigs. It’s time for XII Boar to release their debut album – Pitworthy.

Pitworthy is a hard-rocking, beer-swilling and NOLA-riffing powerhouse of an album that is packed with thrills and spills. XII BOAR come across as the demented offspring of Corrosion Of Conformity, Crowbar and Motorhead jamming for one epic party. XII Boar revel in rock and roll carnage as this album is one loud, mean and hard-hitting experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Opening track – Sharpshooter – starts with a Carnival atmosphere with a Ringmaster announcing the arrival of our musical heroes to the ring. And then BAM – XII Boar let fly with impressive Motorhead style riffs matched against angry in your face vocals that perfectly set the scene for the whole album

Second track – Young Man – carries on the Sludge/Stoner vibe from Sharpshooter but XII Boar now start playing a more Blues/Southern Rock groove kind of thing and it’s a dangerous combo with the band playing impressive licks that ZZ Top would be proud to call their own. The vocals have the right amount of swagger and confidence you can’t but help yourself singing along to.

XII Boar feel they’ve grown up in the legendary NOLA and Southern Rock scenes instead of the UK as this album is dripping in NOLA/Southern Rock goodness. XII Boar carry on that hard-rocking charm for the majority of the album as they blast their way through a collection of great songs for you to discover. Tracks such as Crushing The P and The Schaeffer Boogie – sees XII Boar venture further into the legendary murky NOLA Swamps with slabs of Southern Groove being used for a more soulful blues-rock ride.

The stunning title track – Pitworthy – is one of the albums heaviest tracks as XII Boar go straight for the Sludge Metal jugular with hazy and violent riffs dripping with confidence and purpose. Echoes of Down, COC and Crowbar shine through on this track but XII Boar have this wonderful ability of making this album so fresh and original. Pitworthy is definitely one of the albums standout tracks.

Crawdaddy Blues is a 60 second Blues Rock inspired instrumental track that I didn’t feel very much for. The band should have left this track off the album as it brings nothing to the album. It almost kills the mood. Beautifully played though. Don’t worry as XII Boar return to normal business with Chicken Hawk and Battle Boar. Two fast paced hard-rocking numbers that’s sure to get the mosh-pit crowd going whenever they are played live.

For the final two songs – Rock City and Quint, XII Boar pull out all the stops for the final 16 minutes of the album. Yeah, that’s right. 16 mins. Rock City sees XII Boar play a more Classic Hard Rock style of riffs and ideas to impress you with. As Rock City matches NOLA based grooves with the heavy sounds of 70s Hard Rock/Metal.

The final song – Quint – is an 11 minute epic that may test some listeners patience but stay with it as XII Boar keep you entertained throughout with heavy slabs of Blues Rock, Sludge Metal, Southern Rock, Stoner Metal and Hard Rock all combining for one final action packed ride.

Pitworthy is a blistering debut album and one that has the potential to launch XII Boar as one of the UK’s Premier Hard Rock/Sludge Metal bands in the future.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to XII Boar for the promo. Pitworthy will be available to buy on CD on March 9th 2015.

For More Information

Official

Facebook

BandCamp

BigCartel