RGG January 2016 - p.15
Album:
Head Hunting
Available:
inguerecords com
facebook com/theshogunsdecapitator
Verdict:
Head Hunting is a really well crafted
album; a project featuring members of the bands
Opium Lord, Mothertrucker, Diamonds and The
Pen Wears The Trousers. This release makes
no effort to hide links to the BlackCountry; songs
such as 'Foley Arms', 'Bird In Hand' and 'Picture
house' are all salutes to pubs and venues in the
Stourbridge area which hold important
significance to The Shogun's Decapitator. Their
sound in their own words “embodies late-
nineties adolescence, combining the musical
staples of hip-hop and house, all channelled
through dudes who only know how to play rock”.
It's a radically different release than what the
contributing members are more known for but
highly recommended for supporters of those
said bands. TSD don't use a vocalist but speak
enough with content. Head Hunting is a
technically intense instrumental album and
musically I feel it's up there with bands like Tool,
Incubus and Eight Great Fears, as a genre it's
pencilled in as Progressive Math Rock.
Highlights for me are 'Crown', 'Cross' and album
closer 'Swan' which are all superb experimental
rock masterpieces. I recommend buying this
album.
THE SHOGUN'S DECAPITATOR
EP:
Pebbleman
Available:
iTunes & Amazon
facebook com/interrobanguk
Verdict:
4 track EP titled Pebbleman from self
professed grunge inspired quartet Interrobang
which is the debut release by this Midland based
act. Whilst the band cite many grunge influences
it's notably the vocalist Ellis Wilde with his Eddie
Vedder and Pearl Jam overtones that really give
off that feeling of 1991. Musically I hear more of
a generic rock sound than a grunge one but from
listening to this CD you can tell that the band are
definitely a tight unit of competent musicians.
With only 4 songs under their recording belt they
still show a variety of playing styles; 'Darkly
Dreaming' with it's in your face 5 word minute-
long intro “I'm here to kill you” is a piece of heavy
duty bluesy alternative rock wizardry whilst 'The
Last Lake' is gentler and in my opinion the
strongest song on here with a chorus that really
stands out and shows great songwriting. This is
a good EP for a band that wants to show it's out
looking to tear up the gig scene; I can't say it's
the most original thing I've ever heard but they
are a very strong sounding band, it's a very good
start. Without me sounding like a cunt I'd like to
hear them make more original sounding material
because they are obviously brilliant musicians
but there's not enough on here to change the
music world. They are more than capable of
doing this in time I'm very sure.
INTERROBANG
