Release
date: April
13th
2018.
Label: Blacklight Media/Metal
Blade Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Equilibrium
–
Tracklisting
1.Ricky
"The Dragon" Steamboat 06:24
2.The
People vs. Mr. T 07:13
3.King
Cobra 05:03
4.Manimal
05:22
5.They
Probably Know Karate 04:16
6.Prison
Elbows 05:14
7.Stacy
Keach 04:32
8.Ballad
of ODB 10:59
Members
marc
gaffney- vox/guitar
mike
hubbard-drums
doug
sherman- guitar
joe
grotto- Bass
Review
Well….after
two years listening and writing of music for Outlaws Of The Sun, I
find myself reviewing the new album of my first ever band I reviewed
for Steve, GOZU!
Their
previous album, REVIVAL (Ripple Music), caught my attention thanks to
their powerful style in the riffage and the wonderful voice of Marc,
which always remind me the late Chris Cornell. Today, GOZU came back
with EQUILIBRIUM (Metal Blade Records), an album able to masterfully
handle fat-heavy-stoner riffs mixed with '70s psychedelic melodies.
In EQUILIBRIUM, the band find a perfect mix between bands like
MASTODON, BARONESS, HANG THE BASTARD and SOUNDGARDEN while keeping
their own style in the songwriting. EQUILIBRIUM flows smoothly, never
boring despite the length of the tracks, always above four minutes.
Songs
like MANIMAL, PRISON ELBOWS and KING COBRA are example of how GOZU
were able to manage all their influences, mixing grunge (listen the
singing in KING COBRA), psychedelia
(BALLAD OF ODB) and stoner in an absolutely exceptional product,
always original and able to catch the listener, even those who still
does not know the band.
The
climax of EQUILIBRIUM is reached in BALLAD OF ODB, ten minutes of
pure progressive expression (in the most literal sense of the term).
In my opinion, this song contains all the essence of GOZU. There are
rhythmic outbursts, there are solos in which to get lost is a moment,
there is a perfect rhythm section, and there is the voice of Marc,
the background to the worthy conclusion of a spectacular album.
Of
course, it is true that I have a basic passion for GOZU, but it must
be admitted that this album is, in my opinion, the greatest
compositional and productive point of their career.
If
you do not know GOZU, I’m sorry for you. Anyway, don’t worry, you
still have time to redeem yourself. Buy this album and you never come
back again!
Words
by Bruno Bellisario
Thanks
to Andy at Metal Blade Records for the promo. Equilibrium is
available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl from Metal Blade Records now.
Links:
