One of the joys of this reviewing lark is getting sent music that you would not normally come across, bands that may support your favourite acts on a local rather than tour level that escape your radar arriving on your doormat care of a hard working editor (new writers always wanted, so drop him a line people). One such act is Nottingham’s Widows with their 2017 release ‘Oh Deer God’. Being unknown to me, prior to giving the CD a spin a quick look at their Facebook page saw them describing themselves as “Hard Rock/Stoner”, a description which would match the slightly punning album title, as well as the hippified sleeve artwork. So with that in mind, I brewed myself a nice fresh cup of tea, popped the disc in the player, sat down, and prepared to chill.
Within one chord I was being aurally assaulted by a bunch of raging sonic bruisers, and any thought of relaxation was kicked away with a tidal wave of sludge, the title track sounding like a pissed off and hung over Kirk Windstein screaming against the world. This is not “Hard Rock” as I know it, and follow up track ‘Caffeine and Hatred’ screamed past in a one minute punk blaze that would have the average “Stoner” choking on their doobies in fright! Any chance of mellowing out was thoroughly stomped into oblivion by the heavy groove of ‘Heresy and Venom’, a track title that is practically its own review and having ensured the listener is awake and focused, the band finally get their stoner on with ‘Ride To The Realm of Coitus’, albeit the laid back opening minute of feedback and effects quickly develops into a wall of thunder. These guys clearly do not get the relaxing stuff, and have seemingly located a source of CIA grade fighting weed and partake in some very angry coitus indeed!
Things do wander toward the realms of hard rock with ‘Blue Tuna’ and ‘Baron Greenback Blues’, and whilst there is a hint of blues in each, those who think that Mr Bon Jovi and co are purveyors of “Hard Rock” will be sent running in fear from the fist in your face ire of these tracks. After all the fire and fury of the first six songs, closer ‘Germanium Buzz’ has a remarkably laid back vibe, albeit only for the first half, and if you are a fan of Clutch it would be easy to imagine Mr Fallon and co pounding their way through this number, something that you can trust me when I tell you I say that as a compliment.
The whole of ‘Oh Deer God’ blasts past in barely half an hour, and has thoroughly wetted my appetite for catching the band live. Hopefully they’ll get a bit of well deserved attention with this release, and maybe hit the road and a get a festival or two so that more folks get the chance to catch them. Until then, hit the links and buy the album folks.
(7/10 Spenny)
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