Album Review: Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel – Don’t hear it…fear it

//Album Review: Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel – Don’t hear it…fear it

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel dont hear it fear it review

ADMIRAL SIR CLOUDESLEY SHOVELL – ‘DON’T HEAR IT…FEAR IT’

by Alan Oliver 

When this album landed in my inbox the name and album artwork conjured images of The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown and Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band but alas it was not to be. I was raised on 60’s and 70’s rock so this better be good! Was I disappointed? Was I fu…!!! 

Now either someone has created a time portal back to the early 70’s or this trio from Hastings really have captured the sound that defined an era in rock. Right from the swirling atmospheric blast of acoustic guitar, electrified effects and the chanting of the intro, to opening track ‘Mark Of The Beast’ you know you are in for something special. The electrified riff kicks in and lays the path to the spacey swirl of rock that surges from the speakers. From the disembodied echo effect, to the gritty vocals, to the fuzzed out guitar sound, fat groovy bass and slick beat drumming pound at you.  They are the backbone to all nine tracks but with each one having it’s own signature so being far from repetitive. Take the sandwich of sound that is ‘Ideath’, the instrumental intro trips into a faster rocking more prog metal pace, then blends into a slower mid tempo middle part, only to have the ass kicked back into it in the latter section. Or the Sabbathesque slow groove of ‘Red Admiral Black Sunrise’ with more than an air of King Crimson in the vocal projection that will have you growing mutton chops on the spot, it contains some great guitar sections, and an even more effective use of the distant echo effect on the vocals. How about the slower, more brooding pace of ‘Scratchin And Sniffin’ capped with a melodic solo and the progger’s favourite Hammond organ gelling it all together. Indeed try the MC5 style intro to ‘The Last Run’ that breaks out into a great fuzzed out staccato guitar riff, and if that wasn’t enough then there’s cowbell in there to ice the hairy cake.

The Shovell have created an album, that with clever production, sounds almost like a live session jam recording. This is available on CD and more importantly on vinyl, this would top off the experience of dragging your soul grooving and riffing all the way back to a time when rock music really did blow other forms of music away. This is probably as good as you will get in retro heavy rock where the musicians not only play it, they live it, and that shows in spades on this album. They can be fast banging riffage, they can be slow and groovy, and at times they can be soulful and bluesy. I had the same feeling as this when I discovered the Gentleman’s Pistols for the first time and that doesn’t happen often I can tell you. The only problem I found was that after the bonus track this buzzed out throwback in time of an album came to an end just when it got me hooked. If you are a fan of music that is painted audibly with bell bottoms, healed boots and hairy bloody greatness then get yourself a copy of this, on vinyl if you can, you won’t regret it!!

9/10

 

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel play The Black Heart in Camden with Asomvel, Salute and Amulet on November 17th 2012 – limited tickets available on the door at £5.  

They will also be supporting Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats on 23rd March 2013, tickets on sale now.  For more live dates, check out the ASCS page on metalgigs here (click individual dates on the right for ticket links).

Don’t hear it…fear it is available now from Rise Above records.


Photos from ASCS’s set at Roadburn Festival.

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel dont hear it fear it review roadburn photos

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel dont hear it fear it review roadburn photos

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel dont hear it fear it review roadburn photos

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel dont hear it fear it review roadburn photos

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel dont hear it fear it review roadburn photos

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel dont hear it fear it review roadburn photos

By |2012-10-31T00:00:00+00:00October 31st, 2012|CD Reviews|0 Comments

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