Dogshark are a three-piece heavy blues/rock trio who gig around the North of England and this I believe is their debut album. Opening track Sun Going Down/John The Revelator kicks in with a lonesome, wailing, slide guitar riff before being overtaken by something, altogether much heavier.
Overdriven guitar riffs, sturdy vocals, crushing drums and a thumping bass are the order of the day here plus healthy doses of feedback. No nodding off here as these guys are set on waking the dead. Blockchain crashes out of the speakers with squalling guitar and nifty work from Matt Clarkson on drums and Symon Verity on bass as they propel the song speedily to the finish.
Andy Devine leads the way on forceful vocals and ear-splitting guitar riffing on the prescient lament AI’s Rise. These guys are not Chicago blues purveyors they are the Bastard Sons of Cream, Savoy Brown, Deep Purple, Groundhogs, Jimi etc. The tempo and mood change for Perfect Evening which even features gentle crooned vocals and a tasteful guitar solo.
The approach by Dogshark is straight ahead, no frills, take no prisoners.
But fear not Mind Of Man is a rocking number as Devine states “I’m a man you can believe” with plenty of conviction. Hold My Coat features a heavily distorted, grungy, guitar solo and growling vocals from Verity. On Too Sweet (Type 2 Blues) the vocals appear to be channelled through a bullet microphone. Cliche features humorous lyrics and swirling, slithering, slide guitar as the rhythm section drives the number steadily to a climax. The approach by Dogshark is straight ahead, no frills, take no prisoners.
Spaceships is an absolute maelstrom but closer Fool No More is a slow blues classic as so memorably done by Peter Green. If you need to blow away the cobwebs occasionally this could fit the bill.
DAVE DRURY
