In our Metal journey around the world, we reach Pretoria, South Africa with a band that promises to blow our ears with some heavy fuzz. I’m talking about RUFF MAGIK that is releasing their 5th album Moth Eater and I have to confess that the band got me hooked in the first chords. The fantastic first track “What A Time To Be A Knife” (ft. singer Reegan Du Buisson) has everything I love about heavy music. Crazy arrangements, heavy riffs, humor, weird tempos and excellent vocals. And is very well rooted in good Hard Rock and Blues as you can see in “Dirt And Deer Blood”. The singer and guitar player Johni Holiday is something to behold with his high pitch vocals and even higher pitch backing vocals, and still plays a mean guitar. Rhythm craziness starts “By The Hammer” that gives me total MARS VOLTA vibes.

The complexity of the compositions and the instrumentals are impressive. It would be a waste of time to tell you that we are listening to really outstanding musicians (time wasted). The drummer Steven Bosman is kind of absurd in his approach to certain rhythm patterns and it will be a delight to every drummer to hear. “We're Not Out Of The Swamp Yet “ changes the mood completely and the band decides to tell you a dark tale in the form of music showing that they are not a single trick band. Imagine that tune that suddenly comes unexpectedly like Ice Cream Man from VAN HALEN. Is not on the theme of the others but shows a different side of the band together with their creativity. Every song starts with a weird voice talking from a phone and then they drop the guitars and everything else.”Battering Lamb” is another great track with a lot of energy and unexpected moments. The singer reminds me of Cedric Bixler-Zavala in every song and this is a huge compliment. The variety of riffs and beats reserves a surprise in every track. The singing melodies are creative and on point and the band likes to have guests singing along like in “Cult Eyes” (ft. singer Arvid Hällagård). The bass sound from Jimmy Glass cut heavy in the mix as it should and with great riffs like in “Baby's First Guillotine” and the unique “Ingozi” (ft. singer Lerato) ,that is weird as fuck and even has some horns and a kind of a Jazz arrangement that is trippy as fuck.

If you are a proud musician or musical arranger, this is a feast for you. We reach another crazy one in “Wasted Youth” that has a great chorus and a vibe of electronic music without being anything but. We finished the album with a kind of Country and Blues and some unique vocals that reminded me of STYX in the track Come Sail Away. This last track of the album is the whimsical “Moth Eater” that names the album and has another great guitar riffs and arrangements by Cowboy Bez that is the other guitar player in the band that also sings. Cool track to end a great album. I am really impressed with the arrangements, the energy and the creativity of this band. An album that deserves repeat listening to be able to taste all that it is offering. It is already on my playlist for sure.