Issue # 81
Reviews by West
To have your materials reviewed send to ugr.geo@yahoo.com
Hinting at some slack cat epitaph, the debit runs up quick @ the dealer's table. So we hear annoyance as the jungle calls out the names, written in near rows on the 'nanner leaf. If it'd play tight live I can see dancing as the next runner is up & off the line with a "Heartache Overload". Mixing both Mephis and London hepcat swing. Stumble posing does go on however, as we are not talking the betty of the crochet fame. Ehh, so is life? It won't do ya no harm. Still, the entire programs meanders down a thin path covered with trees, and it's dark outside a bit. Watch those roots! You may fall.

I heard baby still does the hanky panky, rave ups all the while. Heartbreaker that she is, she'll let you think it's love when it's clearly abandonment. She does bring out the "Madman" in all the testosterone heroes. It's definitely a pickup to a running long night! Then it's time hif the surf on the "Shakedown" as the tide is high! It's back down to some half breeds till we jam up a bit on "You Can Love Me". Not to say the rest is bad, but The Caezars try a bit too hard to be kings in a long line of inheritants. Which is honorable, if not a tad too cliche. They do one more job with "Dirty Robber" hitting home on the way out. Give 'em 6 outta 10 just for the effort.
We enter the party already a bit well worn around the edges and immediately begin participating in the rituals. Title cut kicks off staggering out of the bar with an evil look in its eye. The night is young though so on to the next one, and man the joint is jumping'! Finally finding the groove we get set to rock a number called Use Me. No worries though, we get a stout chaser on Don't Let it Bother you. Feedback N glass a breakin'!

Half way through a long night, shit continues breakin' loose with I'VE GOT A FEELING I'M FALLING (Dillinger's Death). It's all good though, as we rumble up in here like 'Taint No Body's Business If I Do. By now the shots are hittin and The Sloks are still up for more. Things do sober up a bit for word On The Death Of Brother John. Thoughts n Prayers N such, but we still got Anna Lou to take care of as she dances the night away! Though ain't no one gettin' that! So we end thins with I'm Gona Sit Right Down, and that we do as the long night tapers down. Then it's just (In My) Solitude as the sun rises and another day begins.
Not trying to make the scene they already tower over. The Pie In The Sky reference isn't lost on anyone who has slept on the streets or had to make the painful effort to make something out of life. It's a new home for her heart she's saying, a new direction. Right on. Pretty cool garage form single. Back With (that's that b/w you often see, it's an ancinet music industry thing, vinyl related) it's Miseryt Of Man. Something we all can state a bit of knowledge about, if we're honest with ourselves. Which most of us aren't at some time or the other. Definitely if it has to do with others. I feel that is at the core WTF is going on here. CRANK IT!!!
While not technically progressive symphonic death metal, it IS technical, with a bit of all the rest, and some grindcore and deep lung hits of zappa for more than a few rounds. Many metal bands would toughen it up but if you do that hear much of this release loses character and become like the rest. I know drummers that play like this w/o triggers and some that use machines. It's impressive in a manner above quanitizing, however it's done. Plenty of good riffs here, the odd (often very much so) lead injections. You're at once gambling in the casino, slamming in the pit, while taking shots of high end whiskey chillin' on the beach. Yeah. It's like that.

You do get freight trains moving briskly along, or tearing up shit out in the yard. Depends on the flavor of the passions pesented. Though in the heady buzz of it all if we'er not careful, a bog can slow us as we tread thorugh the peat. It's cool though because there will be more time changes, massive riffs and soaring arpeggios right around the next block, or stanza I should say. Not trying to be cliche, it's just how things are. I prefere the blast beats, and more groove and singing where it's not necessary. Yert it works sometimes, more often than not, regardless of what I think. Definitely a collector piece for the progresso crowd. Reclaimed gets it all right in a masterpiece kinda way, and all the rest, close enough. For rock n roll.
It is tempting to look more than pay attention to the song. Zowie Wowie, indeed. This is a banger which gained a good spot of honest popularity this past year. It's got oceanside flavor added on top of some actual singing, some scat and bit of other than that laid gentle on a hip hop weave. The whole package is as stated more than mere pretty. That adds to it and should never be discounted here. Even when trying to play it down.
Bringing strength through slamming. The crews will dance when the needle hits the record immediately as the title cut surges across your membranes. Classic but as they say I don't care. So yeah fuck it! They keep this assault up through the entire EP, ands you are the better for it! Little do things variate, as it should be, because as they ask on cut 3 - What's in it for us? Not a fucking thing! Just killer punk rock and if that don't suit cha, fuck yous again! Closing out the set then as Shit Hits The Fan coming through like some classic rocket to russia era Ramones without a word said until the title is blared a time or two at the end!. Nothing more to do nor say but dance motherfucker, dance!
One of the many it seems I review at least twice, maybe three times. Made harder by email providers deciding when I emal myslef it is spam? Such serious bullshit. Computers never fail to amaze me. Kinda like Wizard tattoo! Then there it is like magic on the screen! The review!~!!

But in all seriousness, Wizard Tattoo has been one of my favorite new artists who send me shit over the past couple of years. Everything is really good, excellent or at least listenable. The artist has the good choice of using Reprobate via Haulix to push their PR. This assures at the least it gets to indie & underground media!

This new full album release follows some teasing about the new stuff coming through the last 3-4 months. This new slab, entitled Living Just For Knife Fighting does not disappoint. It's has enough psychedelic hints to almost trip from the beginning through the first couple of numbers. Then the Wizard brings it dirty, on the edge of industrial punk metal, for the third piece, Tomorrow Dies.

This foray into heaviness misses out on the next song but returns, thankfully, for Varsak Of Man. Recalling glory gallops of the 70's, but with a dark edge like stuff of today's 21st century, it shows the appeal of progressive modern retro of Wizard tattoo. That may seem counter intuitive, but it can lead to beautiful things, as we often encounter on our journey here.

Wizard tattoo returns to smooth mode on a Wizard's Blade. It'd remind me of Black Sabbath's Planet Caravan more without the xylophone, and the femal vocals, but then it'd be too close. Another heavy number, an ambient chill piece, and the album is closed out with three cover songs. Which is cool because they're all done up well and all three are heavy numbers to begin with.

So we end our journey with about 7, right at 8, stars of 10. Not bad, not bad at all.
Wiz slidin' deep on this stoned roller bringing up a nice island groove. You can hear the heads poppin' & the water bong rippin as Wiz repps the taylor gang tellin' you straight up JUST HIT IT ONCE! T House guests, rollin' with tha best.
Heard them guitars a playin, some hot numbers too. Seen a party goin' on with dancin' n shit. Down on the beach near the cove these cats were jammin', Monkey Cat somebody said. I asked what songs were a playin' they sed Psychotic Wonderland album. I hit the number goin' round & grooved a while!

TO HAVE YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED:  ugr.geo@yahoo.com.