The Heavy – Great Vengeance & Furious Fire
One of the early surprises of the 2008 comes in form of The Heavy’s debut album. The songs sound like a perfect throwback with a mix of a lot of contemporary elements. A band they can be compared to would be The Dirtbombs but they take the garage rock and give it more blues, soul and flavor. The Bath group does not disappoint for ten tracks and over thirty minutes.
The albums standout song “That Kind Of Man” instantly transfers you back to something from the 70s. The horns combined with young Kelvin Swaybe’s falsettos vocal make this song what it is. The song is so good that it instantly jumps the album up on its own. The album starts with “Brukpocket’s Lament.” The track sounds like a fuzzy and crackle recording of something out of the 30s. The quality of the recording gives it a lot of authenticity. “Set Me Free” kicks things back up with some cowbell and has this great live and raw touch. “Dignity” tuns things up with some fast bass and turns out a classic sounding like early Primal Scream. “In The Morning” continues the blues rock tradition with another burner.
“Great Vengeance & Furious Fire” from the start is an dirty, epic and gritty album. Originally out last year in the UK I am pleased I was able to get a chance to listen to this rare hybrid.
By John Siwicki
