When a band claim to sound like a cross between Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd it's liable to only go one way from there, and that's straight down. Comparing yourself to two of the biggest bands in the history of music, and two that have had such a far reaching effect on the world should be damn near career suicide right?
Yes, normally this would be the case, but on their latest album 'Hex' Big Elf have done the nigh impossible and pulled it off. They jump from Sabbath inspired to Floyd inspired and somewhere in between from on track to the next, and the best thing about all of it is that it sounds awesome! Retro sounding? Yes indeed. Ass kicking? Certainly at times. Lyrically spot on? Hell yeah.
European fans have known about these guys for much longer than our American brothers, but with 'Hex' finally receiving it's us release, it's one that you need to go out and buy.
Seriously, fire up 'Bats in the Belfry' and tell me that that isn't an awesome Floyd inspired track, that could almost not feel out of place on a new Floyd album (should the world end and that actually appear one day...), or that lyrically 'Rock n Roll Contract' isn't awesome.
The 'Evil Beatles'? That's one claim that Big Elf make. These guys are ten times better than the Beatles could ever have hope to be.
I kid you not, I can't stop playing this one, it lands right up there in the top albums of the year, and that's no mean feat for 2007.
Lineup:
Damon Fox - Vocals, Organ, Mellotron, Synthesizers, Piano, Guitar
Ace Mark - Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Slide Guitar
Duffy Snowhill - Bass
Froth - Drums & Gong