Slough Feg - The Animal Spirits

Release Date: October 26, 2010
Label: Cruz Del Sur /
Profound Lore

TRACK LISTING

1.  Trick the Vicar
2.  The 95 Thesis
3.  Materia Prima
4.  Free Market Barbarian
5.  Lycanthropic Fantasies
6.  Ask the Casket
7.  Heavyworlder
8.  The Tell-Tale Heart
9.  Kon-Tiki
10.  Second Coming
11.  Tactical Air War
   (feat. Bob Wright of Brocas Helm)

Total playing time:  38:38

October 26, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

*Comments:

In keeping with the tradition of putting out just amazing music in a semi-constant stream, Slough Feg just churns them out like nickels at a change machine. I mean, really, this band has yet to put out anything even close to subpar, let alone bad. I eagerly awaited The Animal Spirits after the formidable Ape Uprising last year, and this album didn’t let me down one iota.

Simply put, why this band isn’t wildly popular in both the underground and mainstream is a mystery of large design. The typical comparisons to Thin Lizzy aside, on Animal Spirits I’m hearing quite a bit of NWOBHM, which is also somewhat fused into the Slough Feg’s sound. “Lyncanthropic Fantasies” is one of the best Slough Feg tracks I’ve heard, travelling through the sensatory recesses like a slow-moving virus that attacks everything in its way, leaving you not quite sure you’ve been infected. Mike Scalzi’s vocal delivery has always impressed the hell out of me with its effortless arrogance and charm; he certainly is one of the most underrated vocalists in resonance and style, if not range.

“The Tell-Tale Heart” is another winner with its amazing bass work that sets the mood quickly - from trudging metal to lethargic apathy, creating a fine chasm of cerebral illusion fitting for such an incredible band. What always amazes me about this band is how easily it seems to come to them to write interesting and lush riffs while never sounding like they resort to blatant recycling. The chord structure and arrangements always sound like they were pored over for hours yet I’m willing to bet they took mere days at best to find the right order. The shape-shifting within tracks from one mood to the next is truly captivating and sets this album apart from most other bands of similar ilk.

“Second Coming” is a trip back to the catalog of some early 70’s Scorpions to my ears, however slight the comparison may be, it still retains all of the Slough Feg earmarks that we have come to know and expect without fail. The vocal delivery is downright enchanting without overpowering the ears or belaboring the point to excess. So far, in my experience, this band does no wrong.

The one band that you need to hear on a consistent basis is Slough Feg simply due to the fact that they aren’t like any band you might experience in the metal scene; they incorporate doom, speed, traditional, power and NWOBHM with such ease and perfection that denying this fact is nothing short of criminal. This is the band of the ages for our scene, and you honestly need to hear them or just give up the ghost.