SLOUGH FEG - formerly known as THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG (weird enough, huh?) - may be the mere example of a band performing strictly Heavy Metal music the 80s way, with instrumentation & sound origin from the 70s. if you think e.g. MANILLA ROAD or (lately) SOLSTICE or SOLEMNITY are old-school, then thing again 'cause SLOUGH FEG and their (again) brilliant album Hardworlder may be considered as 'pre-school' actually...
Again: this 'weird' American band has the unique characteristic of sounding '70s' while performing '80s'. During their (so far) career they've widely developed their adornment to the music of THIN LIZZY plus the wider Irish/Celtic music style. When I first came across this quartet - just after 1996's same titled & self financed debut (as THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG, back then) - it was quite clear (or so I thought) there was a band playing in the BROCAS HELM/SLAUGHTER XTROYES/MANILLA ROAD/CIRITH UNGOL/THUNDER RIDER vein. As years passed by, while the band released beautiful albums like 1999's Twilight Of The Idols or 2003's Traveller, it was cleared out that (now 'shortened') SLOUGH FEG had built up their pre-IRON MAIDEN influences to a more 'obscure' and 'epic' way, but now focusing more on the 70s sound of (at least the) guitars. Hence, I was really expecting this year's release - the band's third-in-a-row for Italy's fine Cruz Del Sur label - to be more 70s-orientated than any other of the quartet's previous efforts.
Well, the world will keep on waiting for a 'metal' METALLICA album, while at the same time bands like SLOUGH FEG release real Metal albums the most personal way. That's the basic fact: in an era of ceasing of 'music' IDs, SLOUGH FEG has the exclusive characteristic of being this particular band. Atavism, the FEGs' previous album (2005), is considered to be a rather mediocre album for the likes of the band (even if partially disagree on this one): now, the mist is over. Hardworlder is one of your favorite SLOUGH FEG CDs, provided you're into this band/style for real (hope this one never gets to be a 'trend'). With the CD cover picture being the main drawback - even if 'hidden' messages are always active in SLOUGH FEG cover artworks - Hardworlder sees a band in fine motion, writing songs full of archetypal Metal shift. The likes of (of course) THIN LIZZY, (semi-doom) BLACK SABBATH, (obscure) IRON MAIDEN, (epic) MANOWAR and (last but not least) 70s British Rock a la ATOMIC ROOSTER or WISHBONE ASH and with a name deriving from the Irish mythology, the main notice in this album is the guitars. The Scalzi/Tringali duo is stormbringing, with hundreds of riffs, dual soloing and straightforward leads. On to the other half, new skinsman Antoine Reuben Diavola is an 'old-school' maniac with profound knowledge of bringing on relics sounds while the accurate performance of Adrian Maestas is obvious throughout the whole album.
And, yes, if you think SLOUGH FEG's music is a naive set of 4/4 two-chords tunes, then you're completely...wrong. Do not consider them a prog Metal band in any way - even if their skill in combining musical elements of two different decades is really trail-blazing - but the musicianship of this quartet is rather superior due to their will to be as 'primitive-yet-intellectual as they can afford. Tracks like Tiger! Tiger!, The Spoils, Frankfurt-Hahn Airport Blues, Insomnia and Karma-Kazee provide the aim of SLOUGH FEG the best way in Hardworlder, while all songs are memorable. Approved, yeap. The lyrical concept, must be (again) of high level. I'll be waiting for the normal issue to confirm so.
SLOUGH FEG's latest album is excellent. And well-worked. And rather '70s'. And 'metal'; not the way e.g. SPIRITUAL BEGGARS do it. Really hope this band will reach a greater audience.
P.S.: Two covers - MANILLA ROAD's 'ancient' 1980's Street Jammer plus 1973's Dearg Doom from 'cult' Irish Rock monsters HORSELIPS - are featured here. I'd never expect some other kind of cover tunes!