Black Moses
Sounding like Black Sabbath meets Led Zeppelin with the Monkees’ and the Beatles’ melodies mixed in for good measure, Black Moses’ sound can be fairly hard to pinpoint. However, one things for sure – this band are very heavily influenced by the seventies.
Comprised of Jim Jones, singer from The Hypnotics, Graeme Flynn, bassist from Penthouse and drumming newcomer Dave Axford, who’s played with numerous bands, including Gang Of Four, you’d expect them to put their musical heads together and come up with an original, exciting new sound. Sadly, this isn’t the case, as “Royal Stink” sounds more like homage to their idols than an attempt to reinvent the wheel of rock.
Don’t get me wrong - this record is by no means bad, it’s just so competent that it becomes almost predictable. "Can’t Breathe (Turkey Neck)", a firm live favourite, sounds suspiciously like The Beatles’ "Paperback Writer", but is a good, foot-stomping rock song. The rock-blues fusion "Better Believe" has a definite Robert Plant vibe, and manages to capture a 70s feeling, aided by the use of a harmonica and Jim Jones’ vivacious, raw vocals. However, the well-worn guitar riffs and clique twin guitar solos that spiral throughout "Royal Stink" make the album sound like a seventies time warp rather than an attempt to produce some new, enticing sounds.
You can tell from the virtuoso performances that combine to give the songs a strong, driving beat that Black Moses would be fantastic to see play live, but on record Black Moses are nothing special. If you like your rock heavy but neatly packaged, or if the recent ‘Best Of’ Led Zeppelin compilation got you in the mood for a seventies revival, "Royal Stink" is the record for you. But if you’re after something a bit more original, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.