Review Summary: Gozu rightfully maintain their spot on the fore front of the US stoner scene...
Stoner rock mania continues strong in 2016 as more and more bands surfacing each day. This often lazy new generation, that’s less and less willing to produce memorable riffs, let alone experiment, has been steadily saturating the market over the course of this decade. I must admit I don’t have that patience anymore to sift through dozens of LPs just to find something different and interesting. This is why I’m happy to hear new music from those I know never fail or have the desire to stick out. Gozu started strong with
Locust Season in 2010, then made a serious impact three years later with the brilliant
The Fury of a Patient Man. The underground success of that record brought them to the forefront of the US stoner scene. As a result, they had a lot of work to do in order to surpass the new level of expectations. Still, the guys haven’t sought to create a clone of their sophomore effort, opting instead for a heavier outing, closer to the debut. While it blends elements from both previous affairs,
Revival creates a delusional journey that documents their love for action movies, rock n’ roll & tough, sexy women.
Since it wouldn’t be a Gozu record without any grooves, the band wastes no time shoving some down your throat with opener ‘Nature Boy’. The manic guitar riff will start bar fights, whereas the catchy chorus shall make you hum while smashing them beer bottles. The track is a lovely reminder these guys haven’t lost their metallic edge. Right from the start,
Revival echoes Queens of the Stone Age’s
Songs for the Deaf, however with a hazier approach. There’s some Karma to Burn thrown in there, as well as bits of Kyuss, Audioslave or early Orange Goblin. Nevertheless, they have already established a trademark sound, whether it’s about the heavy or moody side. Half of it is defined by Marc Gaffney, whose voice ranges from cool falsettos to powerful shouts, yet never loses its melody. This is a nice contrast that defines the overall atmosphere on all of their records. Cuts like ‘Bubble Time’ or ‘Oldie’ have some killer hooks, pushing the vocals in front. Both are mid-tempo head bangers driven by monolithic riffs. There are always small tweaks added in the background, such as various guitar leads or hazy backing vocals. Towards the end, ‘Bubble Time’ switches gears for a pile driving coda, complete with mint dual shredding solos. Also, ‘Oldie’ goes out in style with some epic, tuneful rhythm I wish it lasted longer.
Moving on to the atmospheric side of
Revival, ‘Big Casino’ is a slow rolling tune with a proper attitude. Molding some Kyuss grooves with touches that could’ve been lifted off QOTSA’s haunting
Lullabies to Paralyze, you get a darker ride augmented by the unsettling and repetitive finale. Meanwhile, the two epics ‘Lorenzo Llamas’, along with ‘Tin Chicken’ take things to the next level. The former is a slow burner that lets the riffs ooze, softening only for the chorus, before Sherman’s solos get to shine once more. ‘Tin Chicken’ leaves the fuzz aside, focusing on a low-key, eerie vibe during the first half. Gaffney successfully channels Josh Homme over some phased guitar lines. The dirt kicks at midpoint with epic solos, however, Gozu chose to finish the album soft, thus returning to the initial hook. I like how whenever you think you got everything figured out, they throw a curveball.
In the end,
Revival turns out to be the band’s most streamlined effort so far. Every part is carefully arranged, focusing on the overall flow. This is definitely a step forward for Gozu, however, I believe it would have helped to throw a couple of straightforward, Eagles of Death Metal-ish, boogie-influenced tunes like ‘Irish Dart Fight’, ‘Signed, Epstein’s Mom’ or ‘Salty Thumb’. They do those so goddamn well and are so infectious, you can’t ever forget once you've listened to them. Plus, it would’ve offered the album a wider range of styles, making it even more essential. Nevertheless, this is a strong stoner rock LP that anybody should check out!
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