(+1 Records)

Brisbane riff masters return

Album number three for Rollerball sees the hard-rocking locals sounding stronger than ever. The influences are glaring, but that’s never really mattered with this band – their scuzzy swagger allows them to get away with a particularly Detroit Rock City-esque riff in the galloping title track. They also convince when they slow down to a hard rock groove such as in the almost funky strut of Youth Bailed (Back To Hell). With such wonderfully knuckleheaded stuff like that, you wouldn’t be out of place for expecting a whole record of denim ‘n leather anthems. But there’s a willingness to explore a range of moods on this record, as Rollerball sound equally powerful in the violin-infused brooding rock of Your Lullaby and the extended desert chugging of Tame Existence. It’s an album where Kiss and Kyuss are musical allies, a point not lost on legions of Australian gig-goers who have caught them firing up pubs and festivals for many years now. Time has allowed them to hone their riff-heavy tunes, which have lost none of their old garagey grit, but have more defined peaks and troughs. It’s proof that a band can sound simultaneously raw and solid as steel. The less patient may balk at the 15 minutes and 39 seconds of Never A Rodeo, but I am one of (I imagine) many who can quite cheerily take in a slowed-down-Steppenwolf psych-metal epic. Luckily, Rollerball also provide plenty of opportunities to boogie.

****

MATT THROWER

Comments (1)

1. Written by Mr. Bridges, on 27-10-2009 11:09 , IP: 202.4.80.52

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