ALBUM REVIEW: Red Fang back with full length LP, Only Ghosts

To get everyone up to speed, Red Fang are a US rock band that have been on the scene since about 2005 and since the release of the first album it’s been all about no-nonsense rock. ‘Only Ghosts’ is no different.

It’s ten solid tracks of sludge or stoner rock depending on which part of the world you come from as it’s a moot point otherwise. There was a point back in 2014 when the album, ‘Whales and Leeches’ caught the imagination and I found myself watching these guys on the Letterman show. Of all places, the Letterman show, but it told us the band had arrived and that the average guy was looking for simple, straight up rock without all of the shenanigans. ‘Only Ghosts’ continues that tradition.

Before we get into the album the cover is a hark back to the day when the art told you something about the band, confirmed the purchase and gave hours of entertainment pouring over the liner notes.
This cover is an optical illusion that gives you the impression that the art work is slithering across the page towards the red ball in the centre. Just the tonic for coming home after a big night, fighting the room spins and then being taunted by an album cover.

Anyway, the music is as immense as Red Fang always sounds. There is no trickery in the mix and it’s just a huge solid sound from the four piece. Bryan Giles on vocals is perfect for the band and this album is a headlong rush from beginning to end. Kicking off with, ‘Flies’ it’s a no-holds-barred rock out, simple straight up melody but still unpredictable. ‘Cut it Short’ is up the stoner end of the spectrum and it’s another solid, unpretentious track that bookends into, ‘Flames’, a ninety-second instrumental, all chimes and feedback.

As long as I’ve listened to this band I’ve always been happiest when they just sway all over the place, changing time and throwing everything into the mix. Just listen to track four, ‘No Air’, and you will get my drift. Its riffing, its sludge, its stoner then it all grinds to a blurry halt. Need a quick introduction to Red Fang, then drop the digital needle onto this track and strap yourself in.

Pick of the bunch is track seven, ‘The Smell of the Sound’ which is feed

back where a riff should be, all running through a go-stop-go beat that danced my speakers across the desk. This is the gut wrenching, internal organ reorganisation that trademarks Red Fang.

Not one dud on this album, we close the show with, ‘Living in Lye’, with its syrup thick riffs and insane drumming to the end. The solo here is beamed from another era and hints at the direction that this band is heading. As the song closes, it kicks on again with the solo jostling to be heard during the fade out.

I think that Red Fang could sing a dictionary and I’d still go to see them. Word to the wise, get this on vinyl if you can as it adds a whole new dimension to the sound. Digital is great but vinyl lets this music breathe. Get it, stare and the cover and get sucked into the Red Fang universe.

Review by Craig Grant

Sharpened teeth bite down for Red Fang's latest release

FROM Portland, Oregon the bastard child of an unholy foursome consisting of the Deftones, Queens of the Stone Age, Clutch and Mastodon emerged kicking and screaming into the world demanding beer and distorted guitars -and thus Red Fang were born.

This creature has now stumbled into the light of its third-album, Whales and Leeches, a furious melange of stoner, progressive, hard rockin' metal. If using those phrases together confuse you, then we suggest you just stick to the Red Fang Beer Game...

Whales and Leeches is an accomplished compendium of tunes, from the furious driving pace of No Hope, to the slowed down sludge of Failure.

Everywhere you can hear a band straining at the leash, creative juices oozing from album opener Doen to closer, the mightily impressive Every Little Twist.

Too often bands like Red Fang get categorised in the most clichéd manner, and not just with the terms randomly flung about above. But dig a little beneath the tracks and there is much more going on; veering from incessant nagging riffs such as on Voices of the Dead, to stoner anthems such as Blood Like Cream and on to the slowed down complexity of Dawn Rising (star track from our point of view).

The involvement of Mike Scheidt (Yob) and Pall Jenkins (The Black Heart Procession) has certainly helped this record, but the production and mix lend the extra touch.

At times the tracks have a hypnotic roll, with Bryan Giles, Aaron Beam, David Sullivan and John Sherman welded together in a fierce determination to nail your arse to the floor.

Low bottom end with the weaving guitar and, at times, chanted vocals produce an album of ferocity and subtlety.

With Whales and Leeches Red Fang have introduced upon an unsuspecting world one of the definitive hard driving, stoner, heavy records of perhaps the decade so far. Bold claim? Listen to them and judge for yourself.

Whales and Leeches is released in the UK on October 21st

Take a step back and get saving...for the rock!

RIGHT rockers, metalheads and lovers of the loudness – right now is when you take step back, speak to your bank manager about an overdraft, sell that spare kidney online and wonder how the hell you are going to afford the summer’s gigging.

Seriously, to parphrase Harold Wilson, you’ve never had it so good...

We recently took a wee journey through the gigs being promoted by MCD, the Limelight/Shine, The Distortion Project, and the Diamond Rock Club, amongst others. And just starting from this week, here’s a wee list that you should keep your eye on...

This Thursday, June 6^th La Faro are at Limelight2 for what they leadman Johnny Black says harkens back to “...when rock music was still fun”. Tickets at the door.

Recover from that and you can sit back and hear true tales from the road and the studio as Anthrax founder and all round nice guy Scott Ian brings his spoken word tour to Limelight2. Ready to hear from the great man? Ready to ask questions? See you on Friday night then.

And, if you want to nip up the Comrades Rock Club on the same night in Ballyclare for Screaming Eagles and Baleful Creed plus a couple of others we’re sure taxis and helicopters can be provided.

Should you not make it to Ballyclare then fear not, because on Saturday, in the Limelight2 Screaming Eagles will be among the support acts for Maverick’s ep launch. Hard work...all part of the game for Adrian and co.

Keeping up so far? Good because I hope all those who managed to get Slayer tickets have their lungs, liver, kidney and rib cages insured for this Limelight1 fest to honour the titans and pay homage to the late Jeff Hanneman.

Recover from that and catch Trucker Diablo at the Black Box on the 13^th June...Year of the Truck just keeps on rolling...

The next Saturday things get punked up at RockD when The Organ Grinder head a four band line-up – pogoing is mandatory!

Alright, so punk might not be your thing, but Parkway Drive is, and they play the Mandella Hall on 18^th June in a 14+ gig. Better still the previous night Triggerman and Astralnaut support Red Fang’s assault on Ireland (17^th June).

Thursday the 20^th June sees Altus pick up from where they left off at Helfast with a date at the Voodoo, where they will be joined by Red Six and Scimitar.

Saturday 22^nd should be a laugh if you are in the Derry/Londonderry region. Triggerman are supporting ageing 12-bar boogie merchants Status Quo. Wonder what the Quo and their fans will make of it when the riff holds sway...

The same night Baleful Creed, Altus, Cutter and Rosco’s Riot are at RockD in Limelight2...

Now hold on a minute says you...can we hold out throughout June to payday? Well I haven’t even mentioned Lixx at the Voodoo and Pat MacManus at the Black Box...

And as for the rest of the summer...Wintersun and Darkest Era are at Limelight2 on July 20^th, a certain Mr Campbell will be reuniting Dio’s old band as Last in Line at Limelight1 on August 8^th and Lamb of God are back to crush the same venue on 12^th August.

And that’s not to mention Faster Pussycat, yer man’s version of New York Dolls, Harv  Look No Bands etc etc

Then you have Belsonic with Nine Inch Nails, Bullet for My Valentine, Bring Me the Horizon and Gojira...

And don’t forget Soundgarden, Avenged Sevenfold, The Answer, Black Star Riders and Black Sabbath...

Dear Mr Bank Manager...owing to this line-up of gigs I require an overdraft facility for beer tokens, merch vouchers and a plethora of tickets...

Thanks to Dino at Limelight, James at MCD, Andy at Metal Blade, NI Rocks gig guide, James Loveday for keeping us up to date with the rock...