Josiah – No Time (Elektrohasch Records)
By Kevin McHugh
May 1, 2007
Biblically named but satanically inclined
, UK power trio Josiah are back with another impeccable hard rocking album. Though labeled retro by some (and not ashamed of the label), the group might also be viewed as a stylistic hybrid, one foot in the US and one foot in the UK, straddling the ocean and producing their unique brand of timeless, blues-based hard rock/riff metal.
Some of you might recognize the name of Josiah's mastermind, Matthew Bethancourt, from a previous Elektrohasch one-off, the Kings of Frog Island. That actually wouldn't be a bad introduction, since it's full of tasty hard rock heavily influenced by the '68-'72 time period, a heyday for lovers of fine tuneage. One of the things I remember most about that album was the consistently high quality of the music. 'No Time' shows that was no accident. Unlike many of the albums released during the bygone years of, say, 1967 to 1976, Josiah's effort does not have a single bad song. These guys are not only talented musicians, but they're even stronger songwriters. For hair swinging, riff-based metal with plenty of fuzzy distortion, wah pedals, and a thunderous rhythm section, they simply can't be beat. Mix in some non-white powder illicit substances and a strong shot of the blues, and you've got it. The grooves are irresistible, and needless to say they're not afraid of the cowbell.
Since the quality is unquestionably there, the "r" word doesn't really spoil the stew. I mean, does it really matter if they're retro or not? I see them as the latest in a long line of rockers who really understand what makes good music, no-nonsense, denim-jacketed, good-natured dudes who might have been at home watching Deep Purple in 1969, Captain Beyond in 1972, Armageddon in 1975, Motorhead in 1978, Datura in 1998, Nebula in 2001, or Shovelhead or Glow last week. This is superb value: bright, well-produced, and beautifully played, cleaving to the values that made (and make) rock great. Recommended!
Read the Hellride review of Into The Outside
Visit the Josiah website at www.Josiahrock.co.uk
BannerXchange
Linear Mode
