In a perfect blending of classic heavy metal, hard rock, and southern rock all wrapped in stoner metal framework, Grecian band LAZY MAN's LOAD - also known simply initialized as "LML" - have crafted a quality full-length debut in "All Hat No Cattle". Formed at the start of 2017, the Athens-based group wasted no time together and released their first single "Start Breathing" by the end of the summer of 2017. At the start of the next year, in January 2018 they released a second single "Persian Mistress" accompanied by a video this time. As one of their first times playing live, they were part of a mini tour supporting the British band SKANDAL when they visited the Greek cities of Ionnina, Arta, and Patra. They then continued to headline live shows in their hometown of Athens with other bands from the Greek underground rock/metal scene. This earned them spots on two "Let It Beer" festivals, opening for bands such as TUBER, NAXATRAS, RUSTY BONEZ, and MORA STI FOTIA.

With the global pandemic's need for quarantine on several occasions, LAZY MAN's LOAD was forced to take a break from live shows and were finally able to complete their full-length debut "All Hat No Cattle". They got in contact with Sleaszy Rider Records and managed to secure a record deal quickly as the band's music seemed a perfect fit for the label. The band's name is also a fuel for the record as well, using the titular "Lazy Man" as a character and driver of the concept of their album. The album follows this "Lazy Man" main character and his adventures in the desert of a post-apocalyptic dystopia, an environment that influences mainly the music of LAZY MAN's LOAD. The album was produced, recorded and mixed at CFN  Recording Studios, Athens by Dionisis Christadoulatos, the main man behind Greek gothic metalers SORROWFUL ANGELS - who coincidentally had a bit of a falling out with Sleaszy Rider Records in 2010 - and mastered at VU Productions Mastering Studio by Nasos Nomikos.

I struggle to use the term "Stoner Metal" for the sound that LAZY MAN'S LOAD provides but it's the closest approximation. I had limited exposure to the band MONSTER MAGNET but they are close, but so is LOAD-era METALLICA with touches of classic BLACK SABBATH and the southern metal provided by BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. That style doesn't vary too wildly on the 10-tracks that encompasses "All Hat No Cattle". The album opens with an intro track "Into the Red Mist" an almost anthemic, groovy, bass-driven blues instrumental. Things kick into gear on second track "Juke Joint" filled with chugging riffs, swampy and groovy choruses, and enough blues-driven guitar solos that cut right to the heart of any road-weary biker. It doesn't let up from there and I particularly love the old-school SABBATH riffage of the verses in "In for the Kills" and building, climbing nature of the song in general leading to an apex of a climax into a slew of guitar solos toward the end. Vocalist Roxx Krash even shows off his range with a final high-pitched scream at the end. There is even the "Planet Caravan"-inspired "Influenza", complete with bongos, but it kicks it up a notch and adds distortion in the middle. The record is dynamic, groovy and just a good, damn romp through some down and dirty, swampy, fuzzy guitar tunes and I have to give special mention to how well the bass just cuts through, a great mixing and mastering job.