As a Wulfrunian (person from Wolverhampton), I grew up thinking my town had the crappest bands hailing from it, mainly because I was non-the-wiser. Regardless, I didn't really take any pride over the fact that we were the sproghole that spawned glam-rocker's Slade or forever disappearing/reappearing soul diva Beverly Knight despite the locals insistence that this was a good thing. Ok, ok, we've got Robert Plant, but for a teenager with a taste for more 'out there' music I felt like I was in the worst of the worst. God Damn are a band that put that former belief to bed... with a shotgun to the face.
The band have been slowly creeping into the ears of as many mardy Midlanders with their refreshingly... well... fresh sound that has them compared to artists from UK hardcore outfit Pulled Apart By Horses to 90s stoner rock giants Kyuss. After debuting with a rollocking 10 song "Demonstration" album in late 2012 that they decided to release as a free download (10 TRACKS!!! FLIPPING FREE!!!) and a fantastically awesome 4 track single I'm A Lazer, You're A Radar (both released through Distorted Tapes), the hard hitting trio return with new releases in the form of their new Heavy Money EP, its title track "Heavy Money" being their latest single (featuring a downright awesome promo video I'm embedding at the bottom).
From the get go, its an explosive EP as first track "Red Checker" bursts into life with double bass drums, a rollocking pair of thick n creamy, bluesy riffs (a sound that has the band reacquiring no bass player) and a QOTSA block piano. Its a sound born in the Midlands with clear influence taken from the region/world's metal legends Black Sabbath. "I believe the simple things will just come to me" howl guitarist/singers Thomas Edward and Dave Copson. Its short at just under 2 minutes but its a rock hard, exciting opener that has your heart pounding and your tongue wagging for more. We then are immersed into fat riffs once more with title track "Heavy Money" drenched in delay and octave effects that make the 3 piece sound so bombastically massive. The vocal talents of Edward and Copson are a massive presence with a screeching lament of "You are a terroriser" creating a positively haunting atmosphere as drummer Ash Weaver provides a stomping steady groove that elevates the song to kick ass levels. Its easy to see why it serves as the title track, it sounds incredibly heavy and best of all, like no one else.
A departure from the stompy and immediately aggressive former tracks, next song "I Don't Really Mind" is a menacing affair. Akin to Queens Of The Stone Age's Lullabies To Paralyze era, its a ghostly outing with a slowly winding guitar riff coupled with cave like moans and an atmosphere so ominous it could soundtrack your darkest dreams. We move on to "New Invention Victory Club", a 2 minute 40 second instrumental with one of the most ensnaring riffs you will hear this year. The lack of vocals surprisingly isn't a suffering point as the track is spectacular in its untouched state, expect this to open future God Damn gigs or you can slap me. The teasingly titled "Like Meat To Morrissey" is a return to the first couple tracks' fast paced nature. Once again, the trio's penchant for solid catchy riffs and growling and gory vocals is revisited. It really has to be noted that the band have the impressive ability to create guitar lines that sound simultaneously familiar and cutting edge, a modern twist on a classic sound but without at all being derivative. Some raunchily epic closing moments are followed by an oddly eerie ukelele interlude separating it from the final song and EP closer.
"Dangle Like Skeletons" is without a doubt, the most adventurous God Damn have been in recording, almost 8 minutes in length and a slow beat to boot. Its a risky concept for a closing track but god damn indeed, it pays off. Introduced by isolated soft guitar and vocals that sway to a waltzing rhythm. A gentle organ accompaniment sets the mood as the feeling becomes more and more epic before the riff drops. A mighty drop, drums kicking in, guitars blazing, its a face melter. "We'll dangle like skeletons" the singer repeats before luxuriant scuzz takes over as the gentle voices turn to violent screeches that groan satisfyingly to the pained yet invigorating fade out. As if they'd read your mind, as the song begins to obscure to silence and you ache to listen again, its bursts back into life (beware headphone users!) with somehow twice as much ferocity than before. The repetition is satisfying as the track builds into a cacophony of fuzzy noise that fades slowly to silence. If God Damn were aiming to melt minds, they can rest in the satisfaction that "Dangle Like Skeletons" had mine dripping from the ears.
As a whole the EP is a triumph in creating a collection of songs that roll so seamlessly and brilliantly. If Kyuss were the soundtrack to driving through the desert, Heavy Money EP is the playlist to the slow drive through the murky grey of the West Midlands on a rainy day... I meant that in a positive manner I should add. Its a shame that due to the heavier nature of the band, recognition on a worldwide scale will be difficult to come by. Its sad enough that in comparison to the popular 'B-Town' bands, God Damn are still labelled as a 'buzz band' when they've achieved the difficult feat of releasing 20 available songs that are all fantastic and this is before a proper debut record is to hit shelves. If one things for certain though, its the fact that God Damn are the light that cometh from the darkness of Wolverhampton. Ay it?
The EP is available June 17th on Gravy Records but is available to stream below via Soundcloud. Enjoy.
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