American head Charge - Shoot

(CD EP Review)

***1/2

American head Charge come back slow and slurgy!

It's been far too long since the last American head Charge release 'The Feeding' and they have gone through countless members to boot. I was quite shocked by the quietness of opener 'Writhe' being used to the band being far more rawkus on past releases. This song does pick up though and shouty vocals do come in, and you can see them being a little more like they used to be and the track does grow on you a little.

I like how second track 'Set yourself on Fire' has really evil vocals and you can see influences brought into it from Mudvayne, Mushroomhead and even System of a Down. American head Charge are still angry like they always used to be, but it is a lot slower and more melodic than it has ever been. You can see they have evolved over the years into a new incarnation that might not appeal to everyone but has some artistic merit.

'Sugars of Someday' as some nice keyboard sounds to it and is a clap happy song that is quite commercial in places and the chorus is brilliant and it has some catchy riffage. While 'Sand' is quite the opposite and has elements of Grindcore and Crust in it's melodies added with quiet vocals and Police car sirens before it get's big in a Stoner slow way.

They save the best to last with an amazing cover of the Patti Smith song 'Rock and Roll N**ger' which Marilyn Manson made famous in the 90's when he covered it and this version is equally good and sounds like American head Charge back when they first started. This is what I wanted to hear from the band and it kind of renewed by faith, because even though it is good I am not so taken with the bands new direction. This is a good EP and I look forward to seeing them live, but it has taken far too long to come out.

Review by Dan Devour