Reviews roundup – Deep Purple vs. Devil’s Train vs. ExDevils vs. Goober Gun vs. Morning Chaos
DEEP PURPLE
Long Beach 1971
earMusic
The latest installment of live material from Deep Purple, this follows on from the likes of “Paris 1975”, “Copenhagen 1972”, “Stockholm 1970” and “Graz 1975”.
“Long Beach 1971” was recorded at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California, on July 30, 1971 and subsequently broadcast on radio, hence the plethora of bootlegs over the last 40 years. And it’s interesting as it’s from their dying days as a progressive band, before they headed into more mainstream hard rock.
As such the seventy minutes only features four songs. So you’re getting two tracks from their fourth album “In Rock”. So that’s ‘Speed King’ and ‘Child In Time’. There’s one from the then new “Fireball” – ‘Strange Kind Of Woman’. And best of all, a stunning version of ‘Mandrake Root’ from their 1968 debut album.
Messrs Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord and Paice were at the top of their game in 1971, so if you don’t have multiple copies of this already, then it really is essential listening for Purple fans. The 27 minutes spent in the company of ‘Mandrake Root’ is one of their finest (near) half hours, and should be compulsory listening for anyone who yearns for the days of the truly progressive.
DEVIL’S TRAIN
II
earMusic
Now, see, that’s a proper album cover, that is. Add in the fact that Devil’s Train bandy names like Badlands and Tangier about, and this was shaping up to be my cup of tea even before I played it.
And I’m happy to report that it did exactly what it said on the tin, delivering a set that harks back to the odd time in hard rock when any band with a moothie and a stetson would be snapped up by a major label for an album of blues tinged heavy rock and roll. Blame Cinderella. If it wasn’t for “Night Songs” and “Long Cold Winter” it might never have happened.
But it did, and this follows in their footsteps, although I hear shades of Junkyard and Rock City Angels in the grooves. Which means the second album from Devil’s Train is a mighty fine thing. To be fair, I could have lived without the covers of ‘Born To Be Wild’ and ‘Immigrant Song’, but the original material stands tall against its eighies predecessors. Considering it was meant to be a one-off project from assorted power metallers, who’d done time with Stratovarius, Mystic Prophecy and Evergrey, I’m glad they stuck around for a second helping
There are some great songs like ‘Rock Forever’ and ‘Girl Like You’, and even if it is a bit one paced, it still makes for a great retro listen.
EXDEVILS
Built For Sin
independent
Fancy some Misfits meets Motorhead meets W.A.S.P? Of course you do. I mean who doesn’t.
Seems like this album has been around for a wee while, but it’s getting another push, and I’m glad that’s the case as Lo-C – bass / vocals / destruction, Chainz – guitars / FX / chaos and Wacko – drums / FX / mayhem (probably not their real names) are having a real blast on this, their second album.
They’ve been on the go for five years, but still seem to have a childlike glee in potty mouth behaviour and shock rock. And why not. The likes of ‘D.M.F.D.’ and ‘Prom Queen Death Machine’ aren’t going to change the world, but if you’re just looking for a quick blast of White Zombie Biker Rock, then this should be your first port of call.
Fun, fun and more fun.
GOOBER GUN
Goober Gun
DyHard Productions
That’s a shockingly bad name for a band, that is. But quite cleverly they’ve become “big in Asia”, thanks to a tour schedule that takes in the likes of Kunming, Yunnan Province, Southwest China and the Chaoyang Pop Festival in Beijing. Places that probably don’t get a lot of nineties influenced alt-rock.
So fair play to them, for having a go. Now despite the fact that they’re big in Thailand, and claim to be influenced by the likes of Cheap Trick and The Wildhearts, the Southampton based trio seem to have more in common with Honeycrack, the Wildhearts offshoot formed by CJ and Willie from the Grip.
And if ever band were designed for number 42 in the charts it was Honeycrack. And for the time being, the same applies to Goober Gun. Problem is they’re trying to do too many things at once, and the songs seem to get a bit lost. Which is why nonsense numbers like ‘Rock N Bangkok’ work best. It’s a stupid ass song with a a great chorus, and it’s when they channel their inner Enuff Z’Nuff, as they do there, that you want to hear more.
They’re certainly odd, something they will take as a compliment, but seriously, there is a good band in here, fighting to get out.
MORNING CHAOS
Addicted
Hurricane
And what’s last on the stereo today? Why it’s some modern metal from Belgium.
Formed in 2011, Morning Chaos put out an EP the following year, and this seven track mini album is the follow-up. And it’s quite good, assuming that post grunge metal lite is your music of choice. After a mellow intro, it’s all systems go, as they head off into Alice In Chains territory.
The band is certainly rock solid, and know their way around a decent riff, and if it wasn’t for the fact that the N word is no longer acceptable, I would have said there were a couple of Nickelback melodies tucked away for your listening pleasure. They’ll probably hate that, but people seem to forget that in amongst the posturing, there was a reason for the N word selling gazillions. Good songs.
On this offering ‘Torn Away’ and ‘Vagabond’ are the highlights, but there is a lot of promise in these grooves, and I wouldn’t object to hearing a follow-up.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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