Album Review: The Great Sabatini - Napoleon Sodomite
I'll have to say I was pretty excited when Noisography sent me the latest release from "The Great Sabatini" to review .I had the chance to catch these guys live in Halifax a few years ago and was blown away not only by the energy and aggression they brought to the stage but by the killer musicianship of each member as they blasted their way through what can only be described as a "Chaotically Tight Set". As assaulting and loud as the music was, it all seemed to flow together to create something with more substance than four dude with playing as hard and loud as they can .
I am familiar with their previous album "Sad Parade of Yesterdays" so again I was pretty excited to not only review but just to hear this new offering from a great heavy band. Once I downloaded the EP, I was a little let down to only find three tracks (one of which is more of headtrip then a song ).
The first track which the EP is named after "Napoleon Sodomite" starts with and almost catchy riff that sort of reminds me a little of Queens of the Stone Age only much more distorted and tuned down but it got my foot a-tappin and grabbed my attention right away .The vocals are loud in the mix and are delivered with a commanding force that instantly detach the listener from any before mentioned Queens of the Stone Age comparisons .For the most part the guitars/drums stick to the main riff but throw in sweet hangin/bend part that helps to break up the song very nicely.
The second song "Helter Skeletor" is a short and strange number complete with what sounds like a banjo and hand claps but not exactly like you've ever heard them before .Since its hard to comment musically on such a off kilter track, I listened over and over and over to see what mental image this song coveys. All I could picture was a 70's horror movie with a swamp monster emerging from the marsh. It must be the banjo and the way the song seems to get louder as if its moving closer to you with every thump/hand clap.
The last track entitled "Trap Sequence" really shows off the rhythm section and the drummer in particular. The guitars chug and sustain as the drums fill in the space with wacky rolls and sick precision. At one point the drummer breaks out in to an almost drum solo while the guitars hold down both the rhythm and lead parts and just let the drummer "roll" with it . Doing this makes it sound all the more heavy when the drums latch back on to the rhythm section before everything speeds up and ascends into a noisy finish. Then there is what sounds like a banjo again playing a nice groovy rhythm that fades out and finishes off the album.
I'd have to say although there is not much to listen to on the album, what is there is very solid and groovy and totally worth the listen. The Great Sabatini prove once again they are among the best in the country, for heavy underground music, and on this little diddy they follow the golden rule of the business ALWAYS LEAVE THEM WANTING MORE!
Get the EP for yourself for a low $6 at http://thegreatsabatini.bigcartel.com/product/napoleon-sodomite
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