Release Date: 11th January 2024. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Megamouth - Tracklisting
1.Megamouth
2.Forty-Nine
3.Freedom To Run (Down)
4.Bill Jenkins
5.Blood
6.Cubomedusa
7.Roll Back The Years
8.Raze The Land
9.Bombs
10.Slippin' Away
Members
Ben - Lead Vocals/Guitar
Bely - Bass/Backup Vocals
Marcy - Drums
Review
Megamouth is the new album from Italian Punk/Garage Rock/Stoner Rock outlaws The Clamps and if you ever wondered what KYUSS and FU MANCHU sound like with a Punk Rock or Garage Rock twist then this album is the perfect answer to that question. The Clamps play a super fast style of catchy aggressive Stoner Grooves with a classic Psych Rock bounce within their music which comes across superbly well within the opening tracks of Megamouth and Forty-Nine.
Bely’s bass is the most prominent sound you will perhaps notice on this album at first with his classic Stoner Rock style allowing Ben and Marcy on Guitars and Drums to build up that heavy domineering heavy bass sound to a more ferocious melodic style. The lead vocals from Ben are from the old school of Heavy Rock and Heavy Metal with comparisons to bands such as KYUSS, The Hellacopters and Motorhead are well deserved.
There’s a sense of much needed social aggression within albums lyrics whilst still allowing Megamouth still having a fast and furious style of highly energetic street level fun where the grooves are AMPED UP TO THE MAX. There is no Prog Rock riff wizardry on this album. As The Clamps play good old fashioned ROCK AND ROLL where the RIFFS ARE KING.
The album is perhaps more focused on the 70’s Hard Rock and 90’s Stoner Rock movements throughout each individual track. The FUZZ ROCK attitude does owe a huge debt of gratitude to FU MANCHU but The Clamps still do their own definitive style on tracks such as Freedom To Run (Down), Bill Jenkins and Cubomedusa bringing a more subtle style of Surf Rock and Drag Racing influences to the party.
The catchy and aggressive Speed Rock attitude continues into the final part of the album with The Clamps delivering the most aggressive and heaviest moments of the album on tracks: Roll Back The Years, Bombs and Slippin’ Away.
Megamouth is The Clamps most confident, self-assured, outrageous and superbly entertaining record to date. The first “must have Stoner Rock” album is here and it’s no surprise that famed Italian Stoner Rock/Metal label Heavy Psych Sounds is releasing this album. They had a fantastic year in 2023 and 2024 is already shaping up to be another brilliant year for one of the best labels in the business. However, this is The Clamps moment to shine. If you miss the good old days of Stoner Rock/Metal having a more streetwise or street level attitude with masses of Punk Rock credibility then Megamouth is the album for you.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Megamouth will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from January 11th 2024.
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