I’ve been getting into the stoner rock/metal genre as of late and I had heard the name of local Melbourne act Sexy/Heavy being mentioned in a favorable light on more than one occasion so I decided to check out their debut release Battlesushi to judge for myself.
The words sexy, heavy, and sludgy are just 3 of the words I’ve heard to describe the sounds these guys are creating which are all accurate. One word that I haven’t heard used however and which I think is very apt is groove!
These guys groove in the heaviest way. Drop the needle onto your vinyl copy of the album close your eyes and you’ll see exactly what I mean. These Choons (no that’s not a spelling error) will get you swaying and grooving to their insatiable rhythms no matter how you try to resist.
Out of the 7 songs that are one here my favorite by far would have to be “Spooky Spark” for 2 reasons. Firstly, because in all the reviews I have heard and read of this album the term Surf Music has not once come up so to hear the reverb-laden tremolo-picked guitar intro to this song was a surprise, to say the least! The 2nd reason is that the Surf Genre is another one that I have been enjoying lately.
The best way I can think to describe this track is to imagine QOTSA channeling Dick Dale or The Atlantics and that will give you an idea of what to expect.
If I could nitpick one thing it would be the vocals which at times are a little too screamo for my tastes but I guess that’s just how it’s done in the Stoner scene. Overall a very solid debut which makes me want to see how these songs go over when played live.
Sexy/Heavy: Facebook
Release Year: 2013
Label: self-released
Category: Album
Country: Australia
Reviewed by Chris Xynos
