****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Gozu have already gained deserved recognition for their debut "Locust Season" released three years ago. The follow-up is just as impressive. After a line-up change which brought on board bassist Jay Cannava of Miltown and Clouds infamy, Gozu continues to chug along at its own pace.Gozu is:Marc Gaffney...vocals & guitarJoe Grotto...bassBarry Spillberg...drumsDoug Sherman...guitarAdditional musicians:J. Canava: bass on tracks 3, 4, 5, 7 & 10.Paul Dallaire: bass on tracks 1, 2, 6, 8 & 9."Bald Bull" comes raging out of the blocks just like any good opener should. This is a scorcher, a very fast catchy track, to kick off this second album from the Boston-based band Gozu.A very intense and emotional album, "The vocals remain top notch while the guitar sound and overall sonic attack has been beefed up to the nth degree. This one is worth grabbing for "Bald Bull" alone which is an early contender for song of the year."Vocalist Marc Gaffney's voice is really impressive, not forced at all, very natural for the "Stoner Rock" genre. There are some really great cuts on this new album, "Salty Thumb" is metal steeped in blues based rock. Gozu's use of two guitars (Gaffney and guitarist Doug Sherman, respectfully) are smoking throughout the whole project.Another, "what metal is supposed to be" track is "Traci Lords", supported by a great drum line that fills the lower range, and the drums keep pounding on "Ghost Wipe"."On this, their second full-length album, Gozu put on a clinic of fuel-injected, pavement chewing rock n' roll. Mixing the chest pounding guitar chuggery of heavy metal with the melodic swagger and laryngeal gymnastics of rock n roll, Gozu has enough in their bag of tricks to get the blood pumping through the meekest of men and to soothe the most savage of beasts."The group's signature sound is focused around Barry Spillberg's intense drumming and Doug Sherman's brawling riffs which sets the penetrating groove, but also enables various tempo changes. "Disco Related Injury" for example, benefits from a sudden shift midway through trading bluesy guitar leads for ultrasonic sections.The bar has been raised incredibly high and any follow-ups in this genre are going to have to be stellar. Superbly balanced blistering riffs with haunting melodies set the tone, enabling the music to be embraced not only by ardent heavy rock fans, but also more mainstream listeners.Powerful vocals, burly guitars and hammering rhythms characterize each track in full and equal measure."The album closes on "The Ceaseless Thunder of Surf", an extended instrumental jam which tips the scales at over 23 minutes. This album's got a little bit of everything that's good about rock music and a lot of everything that's great about it.""The Fury of a Patient Man rages, but Gozu remain in total control and the album is stronger for it, the band proving yet again that those who cry about the death of rock and roll simply aren't paying close enough attention."
