THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG - SLOUGH FEG for short - are a San Francisco based band known for their eclectic, idiosyncratic style. Their music can be described as Heavy Metal only loosely, some songs indeed do have a NWOBHM vibe and heavy, galloping riffs, but a lot of their material is inspired by 1970s Hard Rock and Folk Rock. Their music is really quirky and eccentric - it plays with the absurd, the surreal, the grotesque. A big part of SLOUGH FEG's identity are the well-composed lyrics. Frontman Mike Scalzi (also former lead singer of another well-regarded band, HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE) has a unique and imaginative style, that, like the band's music, plays with the absurd and has some satirical undertones. In part, what makes both the music and the lyrics entertaining is a kind of subversive attitude: the lyrics as well as the melodies can be over-serious or pompous (the lyrics are loaded with "learned" words and catchphrases) to the point of being comical, but at the same time they can be provocative and address serious topics and even can feel genuinely heartfelt.

SLOUGH FEG's tenth full-length release "New Organon," contains ten songs and clocks just around the 40 minutes mark - a classically lean Rock album. Most of the songs sound like Psych Rock with a Hard Rock edge, the Heavy Metal influences are more of an icing on the cake. "Headhunter" is a quirky song with a jovial, light-hearted kind of chorus, but it has a faster middle section with a driving melodic riff. The mood changes right after this one with "Discourse on Equality," which is sinister both in tone and from the lyrical standpoint. The fourth song "Being and Nothingness," is the first up-tempo, high-energy song with some galloping NWOBHM riffs. The title song's verse has a heavy, foot-stomping groove, the chorus' soaring melody has a kind of indignant tone that sounds comic in its over-seriousness. "Discourse on Equality" is a high-octane, very 1970s sounding rocker with excellent leads and solos. "Coming of Age in the Milky Way" is taking the eccentricity to another level. It's a kind of jovial Folk song that is at the same time comical and endearing. The closing song, "The Cynic," is a simple mid-tempo Pub Rock song, but feels very heartfelt.

This album is multifaceted and multi-layered and also - at least to me - quite entertaining. SLOUGH FEG are not a retro band that just rehashes what has been done before. They breath life new life into old forms that have been discarded by many as too simple or sentimental. The only complaint that I have is the production, which is a bit too rough. SLOUGH FEG is obviously not for everyone, but "New Organon" is a strong release and if you are someone with more eccentric tastes you shouldn't miss this.