Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell-Don't hear it...fear it!

Metal Blade/Rise Above
2012

This band decided to name themselves after a British Naval officer who lived in the 17th and 18th centuries. Their band name had me thinking of Sir Lord Baltimore. The sound isn't exactly the same as that, but it's in the ballpark or at least the right era. Think fuzzy, psychedelic tinged proto-metal is the sound that's at the core of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's madness. Think the usual suspects like Sabbath and Deep Purple, but also Budgie (that may explain the cover too), Dust, Buffalo and others from that late 60's-to early 70's period when playing heavy music was still in it's early stages and these bands were pioneers still figuring out hold to mold and control these sounds. This band captures that raw spirit and despite having definite influences they still channel their msuic in such a way that you feel like you exeperiencing this style for the first time. "Devil's Island" creeps on and stays below the surface for a while riding on a fuzz driven wave  before leaping up and running on the power of some immense grooves. "Red Admiral Black Sunrise" digs in a bit deeper than some of their other songs and shows how adventurous the band can be with both their writing and playing.
"The last run" hits like a storm yet still retains a great degree of flair as well. "Scratchin and sniffin'" assaults  your ears with a heavy attack yet the band shows their quirky side as well. Playing  heavy music inspired by great bands from forty some years ago isn't new.Those kind of releases come out frequently, but not everyone can put their stamp on this sound lik Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell do on "Don't hear it...fear it!". Even more than that they make it exciting because they are obviously having the time of their lives making this music and that feeling shows through in their sound. Well worth checking out.