Release
date: December 8th 2017. Label: Tee Pee Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Force
Field - Tracklisting
01.
Hippie Speedball
02.
Earth Shaker (Which Doobie U Be)
03.
Alaskan Thunder Fuck
04.
Shocker
05.
Crazy
06.
Fried Dyed And Layin To The Side
07.
Shell of a Man
08.
Houndstooth
09.
Tits and Bones
10.
Humble Brag
11.
Super Highway
12.
Liv A Little
Members
Chris
Kosnik - bass, vocals
Bob
Pantella - drums, percussion
Finn
Ryan - guitar, vocals
Review
Legendary
Space/Stoner Rockers - The Atomic Bitchwax (TAB) - return with their
seventh album. Force Field carries on from their excellent last album
with the band providing almost thirty five minutes of Spaced Out
Stoner Rock grooves. Maybe the band doesn't try anything new with
their sound on this album. Why should they? - As they've already came
up with a winning formula to entertain their loyal subjects with.
The
twelve songs held on the album all last around three minutes in
length but TAB manages to provide some different spaced out riffs
compared to their last album.
Opening
track - Hippie Spaceball - is good as anything the band have put out
in years with TAB creating a blaze of Stoner Rock glory that will
soon get you in the mood to rock out. The music is fast paced and
allows TAB to play as many different sounds they possibly can from
their epic career. The vocals are dynamic from the start. As they
have a punk rock manic energy to them.
Second
track - Earth Shaker (Which Doobie U Be) - is definitely as Stoner
Rock song not only in style but also in manic delivery. The riffs
leave you in a hypnotic and trippy trance. The song does have a
classic Fu Manchu sound at times but TAB inject a classic sounding
seventies stoner/doom/space atmosphere. The whole sound of the album
has a more space/psych rock vibe compared to their recent albums. It
allows TAB to create a more vibrant and classic sounding album.
Though
TAB always bring the goods to whatever album they release. With
twelve songs on the album, I would be virtually here all day
reviewing every track. Let's not kid ourselves here. We know how TAB
sound. Force Field is packed full of great songs that will have the
wide majority of the Psych/Stoner Rock community rocking out in
agreement at the majority of the excellent songs held on this album
for days on end.
Other
great songs to check out are: Alaskan Thunder Fuck, Shocker, Crazy,
Shell Of A Man, Humble Brag and Super Highway. The lyrics once again
have a playful and hugely entertaining vibe to them. I may have even
heard slight references to Thin Lizzy lyrics and riffs on songs such
as Alaskan Thunder Duck.
The
production and whole sound of the album is excellent from the start.
With the band sounding the best and most energetic they've sounded in
years. TAB should now be considered one of the most iconic Stoner
Rock bands along with Fu Manchu, SLEEP and Monster Magnet. Force
Field only enhances that well-deserved reputation.
With
the year almost over and sites prepping their best albums of the year
already, it's good to see TAB making a claim for releasing one of the
best albums of the year in my humble opinion. Force Field is a
brilliantly entertaining album that oozes class from one of the best
Stoner Rock bands in the business.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks to Becky at
Pioneer Music Press and Carl at Action PR for the promo. Force Field
will be available to buy via Tee Pee Records on CD/DD/Vinyl from
December 8th 2017.
Links:
