Some time ago I saw the name Slough Feg pop up with many raving reviews and high rankings in journalists’ yearlists. This U.S. traditional rock/metal outfit originally formed in 1990 and has numerous releases on its name. However this is the first actual recordings I hear of these guys, entitled Ape Uprising, a title a hairy dude like me can relate to. Let’s see what The Lord Weird Slough Feg (which is their full name) has in store for us.

 

Already their seventh full length outing, Ape Uprising is a fucking marvellous record. I usually have huge problems with traditional metal since it’s all so re-regurgitated to the point of infinity. Yet Slough Feg has managed to write songs that give you a traditional feel, but also overwhelm you with utterly brilliant songwriting. They themselves claim their music is a mixture between Celtic folk music and traditional metal, which is true for about 90% of the music on this disc. Especially the name Thin Lizzy comes to mind many many times while listening this, which is perhaps the biggest compliment I an give to this band. Other than that, I hear some stoner/doom influences here and there, but I guess in the past that style of music went hand in hand with traditional metal. Just think Iron Maiden meets Cathedral and you get the point.

 

Normally I stop listening to bands like this when a spandex wearing pony-haircut moron starts screaming like a eight year old girl, but no such thing is the case with Slough Feg. The colour of Mike Scalzi’s voice is very excellent, not too exaggerated but still very much convincing. Excellent job!

 

As you can see there is nothing I can honestly complain about on this record. Definitely one I’d recommend to fans of traditional bands like Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, St. Vitus, Queen, Judas Pries and basically every rock band that has obtained a cult status. You all better recognize the huge potential and talent of Slough Feg. Damn good rock music for all ages!