Black Elephant

COSMIC BLUES

SMALL STONE

FUZZ-LADEN RETRO-ROCKERS TRY TO STAND OUT FROM THE HERD Italian psychedelic fuzz merchants Black Elephant continue their love affair with all things old school on their suitably mammoth-sounding third album. Utterly in the thrall of the riff and evoking the ghosts of Thin Lizzy, Sabbath and Hendrix throughout, the spartan, almost live production gives the impeccable players room to express themselves and the record is full of deft fretwork, bluesy licks and, in Walking Dead, some wonderfully OTT hooks. Keeping vocals to a minimum, the wah wah pedalbattering title track is a standout, as is the exceedingly groovy Helter Skelter, which is driven by guitars that are fuzzier than a billy goat’s undercarriage. Funkpeppered instrumental Chase Me offers a welcome curveball and it calls to mind Clutch rocking out in their jam room. While the record runs out of steam once the monstrous early Soundgardenminded fifth track Baby Eroina finishes, it’s still a fun, if slightly forgettable slab of primal goodness.

FOR FANS OF: NEBULA, UNIDA, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY

EDWIN MCFEE