RSS Feed


HUMBUCKER
King Of The World

Humbucker (2014)
Rating: 8.5/10

Y’know what? Sometimes it’s nice to hear music from Norway that isn’t just a remote black metal wail of regression!

The unusually named Humbucker have been in existence since 1998, and put simply they play good ol’ fashioned rock ’n’ roll that mixes AC/DC, Motörhead and Saxon, with a hint of Black Sabbath and a touch of bluesy boogie.

In a sense, this is no frills metal but delivered with such conviction and attitude that it’s an album which cannot be ignored. Vocally, Jan Anders Bøen has a touch of oily sleaze to his tone and this is evident from the off with the killer groove that is ‘Self Made Son Of A Bitch’, a real rockin’, loose-lipped and swaggering smörgåsbord (or “koldtbord” as they would say in Norway) that is operated by the frightful twin guitar attack of Vidar Svanheld and John Petter Pershaug, who are masters at fusing boogie and belligerence.

“I started out with nothing, and now I have it all” barks Jan, and it’s the perfect line to start any sweat-soaked rock ’n’ roll album. Forget all these sleaze rock pretenders, Humbucker crush the 80s imitators in their wake, marrying searing hot solos with Geir Arne Dale’s crashing drums and Lars Stian Havraas’ dominant bass.

King Of The World – the band’s second opus and follow-up to 2011’s R.O.C.K.S. – is the sort of kick-ass, denim-clad, gasoline-fuelled, high-octane chest-pounder we’ve been waiting for, and in its simplicity it somehow manages to drag a generation of revivalists by the scruff of their neck and throw them to the lions such is its presence.

The dirty sleaze of ‘One Size Fits All’ melts into the tumbling drums of the title track with its AC/DC-styled jarring riff and drooling vocal, while ‘Gone Fishing’ applies extra weight with its juggernaut riffage. And for added blues we get the sweltering chimes of ‘Dirty Nelly’ – it’s half a hair metal ballad with convincing twang and jangling guitar. With its injection of wheezing organ I’m reminded as to why this type of almost archetype, yet reflective ballad still works when delivered with the correct formula, and with its Rolling Stones-like vibe it remains one of the album’s best moments.

But then again, as albums go Humbucker’s sophomore platter is nigh on perfect throughout. ‘Harder Being Me’ has the sort of up-beat skip one would expect from a late 80s Mötley Crüe song – it’s bubblegum hop is also partly Status Quo in its straightforwardness, but the harmonies are killer. ‘Lone Rider’, ‘Lord Have Mercy’ and in particular the racy ‘I Did It All’, with its southern boogie sleaze, steel up an album that just rocks from beginning to end.

It would seem that the future of rock ’n’ roll is to go back to basics and yet with so many potentially great bands failing miserably at combining retro with modern oomph, Humbucker effortlessly have found that winning formula which will have you swigging, swaggering and eventually swaying in a drunken stupor through the door.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share