Ask yourself – what is it you want from rock ‘n’ roll? Is it the visceral thrill of a hard-hitting riff slamming you in the midriff? Is it an wildly unpredictable and hirsute frontman unleashing a wail that sits somewhere between Zakk Wylde and Phil Anselmo? How about crushing percussion that cuts through the mix like a diamond-tipped power drill? Or is it simply that you want to listen to some good time tunes that have a tendency to kick your ass? Either way Potergeist have all the boxes ticked because they’re a lean, mean groove machine possessed of that bad-ass Pantera attitude and unhealthy levels of ability. The last time we reviewed Potergeist we started the review with the words “Oh hell yes!” and I can think of no more honest reaction for this release, the record being a wanton bringer of destruction that will surely rock your world if you are foolish enough to let it over your threshold.
What sets Potergesit apart is that they are the sort of heavy duty rock band that you want to invite your mates round to hear; the sort of band you just know will pack a venue and set it alight; the sort of band that make you want to dust off your trusty leather jacket, grab a beer and head on out whenever you hear them. They evoke the spirit of hedonism and I can think of no better record to jam on before hitting the town for a wild night out. Available on CD and, joy, on heavy duty white vinyl (surely the preferred format for these analogue loving maniacs), ‘Swampires’ is the band’s most concise and blisteringly heavy offering yet, its crystal meth charged grooves guaranteed to put a fat smile upon the lips of anyone who loves heavy goddam’ metal.
Opening with a short intro, ‘Swampire’ kicks the album into gear with a monstrous drum beat paving the way for a chugging riff that demands you bang your head no matter what the circumstance. Alex S. Wamp sounds like Phil Anselmo on ‘Vulgar display of power’, all New Orleans drawl and wild-eyed screams whilst the twin guitars of Stratal and Nick XP burn a blazing trail into the darkness thanks to David Castillo’s near-flawless production. This is swamp-infused metal in the vein of Pantera, Down and Crowbar delivered with furious intensity and power and anyone who loves metal will love this almighty assault. ‘Southern crown’ has a full-on driving riff that takes no prisoners, whilst Pluto’s bass nimbly keeps the sound anchored in place. What really marks the track out, however, is the melody that Potergeist bring into play for whilst the album is heavy, the band never forget the importance of a good tune to keep things memorable and the result is a set of songs that are groovy, heavy and hook laden. ‘Every time I break’ takes the pace up a notch pitching a humungous, chrome-plated riff against sharp harmonics and Alex’s gravel-throated roar. It’s a head-banger’s paradise, with neat tempo changes and sludge elements that recall Pantera’s ‘drag the waters’. ‘Loves martyr’, in contrast, has a neat southern groove that sits somewhere between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Black Label Society whilst keeping the riffs at 11. It’s everything you could ask from a heavy duty rock ‘n’ roll album and highlights that OPotergeist have managed to achieve the impossible and improve on a sound that was already pretty damn immense on the previous album.
At the centre of the album lies a massively melodic piece entitled ‘rock fairy’ which emphasises the BLS connection, drawing comparisons to ‘1919 Eternal’ with its addictive melody, laid back solo and churning riffs. It adds an extra dynamic to proceedings and gives greater weight to the taut groove of ‘hope’ with its harmonised guitar lines and skull-crushing percussion. It’s as if the band have tapped into the spirit of early 90s metal – Pantera, BLS, Machine Head and drawn out the best elements – the pristine groove of Pantera, the primal fury of machine Head, the innate melody of BLS and crafted their own swamp-soaked vision from the parts – and the band’s playing is faultless throughout. ‘King’s army’ with its ascending riff and chugging verses is the greatest Pantera song never written and of particular note is Alex’s performance, the singer combining grit with melody in a way that so few singers achieve effectively. ‘The time has come’ sees the album drawing all too quickly to its conclusion on an absolute belter of a track that cements Potergeist’s position once and for all as masters of their art. Possessed of a demonic groove, stacked with hard hitting riffs and with Alex’s towering performance tying the whole thing together, Potergeist perfectly capture the spirit of swamp-infused heavy metal, and you’ll be lucky if you don’t need a neck brace after spending any amount of time in this album’s company.
So, what do you want from rock ‘n’ roll? If you want groove, passion, power and style then you’ve come to the right place because Potergeist deliver in spades. Drawing upon a range of metal from Pantera and Down to Black label Society and Machine Head via the spirit of classic southern rock, Potergeist are a band who make you want to crack a beer, burn some meat on the BBQ and head bang ‘till you drop and that, as SonicAbuse is concerned, makes them essential listening. ‘Swampires’ – your new favourite album from your new favourite band – get a copy and get it now, this is metal as it’s meant to sound.
Want proof? Just check out this video for the title track, it’s 100% proof…
Find out more at www.Potergeist.com
