With a moniker that sounds like a collaboration between the Discovery Channel and SyFy come these rock and roll outlaws from Melbourne. Supersonic Rock ‘n’ Roll like the band name is a mish-mash of styles. J Fuller from Blood Duster describes them as “the missing link between Kyuss and Ministry”. That would be true if ZMWY’s output made that sonic leap and brought the genres of stoner and fucked up drug addled industrial together in a heady frothing brew.
What the quintet do, and do very well is flit from style to style with each track. This includes some akcka dacka style vox and riffage, slide guitar blues stompers and sub Manson / Union Underground industrial lite. For a listener with musical ADD like myself this suits to some extent.
Opener “Grind the Grinder” is a raunchy and roll swagfest with vocalist Ran coming off like Dee Snider and Bon Scott’s bastard lovechild. There is good time groove within these tracks that’s for sure. “Dead Smile” is a bluesy hipswayer – the cod Lemmy vocals at the beginning seem out of place but Ran soon gets back into a more original rasp. The beats start to take on a bit of a Nu influence and the song drifts into an aimless electronica section which leads into “Galactic Motherfucker”. All of a sudden it is the late 90’s. The Beautiful People is booming out and girls with multi coloured hair falls are spinning about a low lit hostelry. Come on now! There are other drum patterns to be used if you want to sound like you wear Cyberdog clothes! This does not sit well with what has gone before and comes off as try hard. Manson and The Union Underground did it right.
Thank badness that “Love for Speed” kicks in with a Supersuckers punky burst. I am even reminded of the snotty faux punks Towers of London. Brash snot filled beer soaked wonderful nonsense. “Roll ‘n’Burn is a slice of southern fried slide guitar blues which would keep any biker bar quaffing til the early hours.
As is their wont another direction change follows with “Fight Fight Fight” what starts as GG. Alin fronting the Dukes of Nothing segues into a stoner groove before leaping back into the fray. Desert groove is all over the title track with a chant along chorus that is simple enough for even the drunkest punter to slur shout. “Bad Boy Benny” is a return to the biker bar whilst “God of No” has a chunky distorted doom riff whilst keeping its spiky edge.
“Judas” brings matters to a close and brings us full circle. Big riffs and goofy infectious leads. These guys are more like the missing link between Airbourne and Red Fang and that’s a great link to be.
(7/10 Matt Mason)
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