GONZALEZ (s/t) CD
Hailing from Atlanta, USA, GONZALEZ churning out ten entertaining songs and successfully avoiding monotony. Their groove-drenched heavy metallic fuzz rock takes the best elements of 70's hardrock and 70's-style rock 'n' roll, and gives life to the dead. Basically this album sounds like GONZALEZ could've been one of the first bands to have done what they are doing, that is they could've been one of the originals. They sound like what every band wishes they could sound like, in the sense that they have been one of their very own influences. Hence, their influences are obvious, but they make each song their own. Another big plus is their passionate vocalist, who sounds very natural instead of playing the tough guy with super-dirty vocals. GONZALEZ are so genuinely enjoyable, yeah, they wrap themselves in thunder and sweat and offer their souls without hesitation.
The only thing I don't like about this album is the song "Call Me To The Grave", where the band had taken Blondie's "Call Me" and Black Sabbath's "Children Of The Grave" and mixed it together to the above mentioned track. For my taste, this "double-cover-version" sounds terrible and is really superfluous. But that's the only low point here, and their own material is stronger and very effective like the straightforward "Drag Vader" or "Three Time Champion" f.e. Just straight up, with a clever twist. Last chance to rock, people - you just can't go wrong with this album.
(KK)