First of all I have to make an apology towards the guys of The Parlor Mob. It took me way too long to write this review, while their debut album for Roadrunner Records is worth all the positive publicity they get. These youngsters from New Jersey started a band called What About Frank? when they just finished high school in 2004. Four years later they signed a contract with Roadrunner under the name The Parlor Mob, because that “is a less hokey name and more representative for their music”.

 

When they started with What About Frank? they had a more progressive rock based sound, but this evolved to a more bluesy, experimental approach to the sound of the 60s and 70s on their debut And You Were A Crow. The album kicks off with the single ‘Hard Times’ and this immediately resembles the whole album in a perfect way. Explosive riffing, solid base lines and powerful drumming topped with the characteristic voice of Melicia. This album is a great tribute to Led Zeppelin and although they try hard to not be just a LZ-coverband, this challenge doesn’t completely succeeds.

 

One of their best songs, the slow, 8 minute long ‘Tide Of Tears’, has a lot of similarities composition-wise to Led Zeppelin’s ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’. This makes it slightly less resourceful, but still this album is a must have for you rockers out there.