Moosehead - Carved In Stone 
Release Date: Out Now
Having discovered the multi-headed Cornish rock beast that is Moosehead supporting Jamie Lenman in Plymouth recently, I simply had to check out their debut album and I'm glad I did because 'Carved In Stone' is quite the record. Getting underway in no uncertain terms with opening track 'Fear and Loathing', Moosehead greet us with a roaring slab of guitars and ominously thudding drums before settling into a System of a Down inspired riff that sets a course for the hear of the sun. 'Sympathy' has an Audioslave meets Soundgarden feel to the riff while the vocals call out from the outside of a dark chasm with a blend of rock, soul and desperation.
Title track 'Carved In Stone' has an intensity to it that you'll be hard pushed to beat on a rock record this year before 'Smother' has more swagger in the guitars, pushed along by drums that roll as much as they rock. The vocals of frontman Dunk take centre stage on 'Sleepless' as the band really get in to the stride with a huge sound rock anthem that gives way to 'Woman', a track which hangs off some furious bass playing and searing guitars. 'Seasons' picks up the baton of rock and maintains the unrelenting tempo (no ballads here) while 'Karma' gives a nod back to the 80s with the lead guitar line smelling of leather, Jack Daniels and hairspray (all in the best possible way).
The penultimate track on this album is the brilliantly titled 'Albino Baboon' which starts moody but soon erupts into a strutting AC/DC sized rock behemoth worthy of any stage or arena. The album started on a moody, theatrical note and finishes in the same vein with the superbly overblown 'Questions Answered' which moves from rock opera to something akin to rap-rock with a small detour via grunge just to keep you on your toes. Moosehead are that rare thing in an honest and authentic band that are determined to rock out and rock hard no matter what and they'll do it with or without your support but woe betide anyone who tries to stand in their way.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/mooseheadband
Live Dates:
8th December - The Cornish Bank, Falmouth w/Taunts + The Ocean State