GOZU
“EQUILIBRIUM”
Album Review by Stacey Fawcett

10/10

Gozu have been releasing albums since 2009, most notably is 2016’s album “Revival” which saw the band taking a slightly heavier direction than the previous albums. “Equilibrium” is an album that can only be described as an emotionally heavy trip.

First up we have “Ricky ‘The Dragon ’Steamboat” starting the album on a heavy note, with a mass of instruments which at first seemed overwhelming. However, the more I listen to the track the more I get the emotional intensity, he is singing from his heart and using the emotion, the grief from his father’s sad passing to give us as listeners an album that he feels we deserve, the band deserve and most importantly what his father would have wanted. His son to kick ass.“ The People vs Mr T” is slightly doom like but entrancing you, it encourages slow head banging whilst sipping your drink of choice (obviously beer..). It is entirely psychedelic and eerie but wonderful. So far this album either hits you in the chops or puts you into some form of hypnotic state.

“King Cobra” has a fantastic groove driven by the drums, with the addition of wah from the guitar layering this up. This is a crowd pleaser without being cliché which is sometimes easy to slip into in the world of heavy metal, I have to throw a big shout out the guitar solo too – it is magical.

“Manimal” is a bit sludgy and doom metal like but has yet more phenomenal vocals and guitar work. This album is such a pleasure to listen to, it’s very appealing when emotions are relatable and you can hear that every musician on this track is feeling it. “They Probably Know Karate” is my favourite track of the album as from a drummers’ perspective it is sublime, the rhythm is kept so tight when it would be so easy to speed up with it and let it run away. It’s not an easy feat but Gozu make everything they do sound simple, believe me it’s not. Following this is “Prison Elbows” which holds itself proudly against the previous track, it’s not often on an album that every track is this good.

“Stacy Keach” makes my neck hurt, you can’t not head bang to the opening riff of this. Then you are catapulted into more psychedelic cavernous aesthetics, it’s one hell of a trip. But I’m not ready to leave yet, I like it here. Now we have the last track of possibly one of my albums of the year “Ballad of ODB”. It is gentle, produced to perfection, has light and shade – it has everything you’d expect from this album.

The album may divide people as it’s crazy, but a good crazy. It has so many different elements in one, there’s a risk it could not have worked. But it really has for me as the mix of complex song writing and production is astounding. It is a journey of self-reflection, healing and the future.

TRACKLIST

1. Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat
2. The People vs Mr T
3. King Cobra
4. Manimal
5. They Probably Know Karate
6. Prison Elbows
7. Stacy Keach
8. Ballad of ODB

https://gozu.bandcamp.com/album/equilibrium
https://www.facebook.com/GOZU666

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