Wednesday 17 July 2013

Switchblade Jesus - S/T - Album Review


Switchblade Jesus cover art 

Switchblade Jesus is a Sludge/Stoner Metal Band from Corpus Christi Tx, USA

The members are:

Peter Quarnstrom - vocals
Eric Calvert - guitar
Billy Guerra - guitar
Jason Beers - bass
Jon Elizondo - drums

I have been hearing a lot of good things about these hard-rocking outlaws from a whole range of people. Friends and Colleagues from the blogging world telling me how great they are. So I took the plunge and decided to buy the album.

Also it doesn't help that Eric emailed me as well. So folks I now get the message. Switchblade Jesus are definitely a band worth checking out. Their blend of high voltage blues based Sludge/Stoner Metal will find them a huge audience as their S/T debut album is all killer and no filler. It's about as good as a debut album you will ever likely to hear if you're a fan of NOLA based riffs.

Though the album doesn't start off that way. The first track - Into Nothing - is a two minute quiet instrumental number building up to something which never materialises...... until the brutal and blistering hard rocking classic that is - Bastard Son.

If you're a fan of Down, Corrosion Of Conformity, Crowbar and even Clutch then strap yourselves in. Bastard Son is going to fuck your fragile world up. Blazing guitars come out of nowhere with Peter on inspired form. And the killer lyrics that can make a grown man cry!!! - Want evidence. Well how about these lyrics - "Well see your Daddy was a bastard baby, can he change his evil ways - NO!!! - So I shot him down to the ground"

Yeah folks - this album will grab you by the throat and it won't let go until Switchblade Jesus either convert you to their way of thinking or you will be left emotionally battered and bruised through the power of their riffs.

Up next is The Wolves. Another great track to show what these hard-edged rockers are made of. Fast paced riffs coming at you with real passion and awesome vocals to match. Peter doesn't hold back here. He lays everything on the line. This album sounds like a confession from a tortured soul and if you decide to mess with him. Then his band of brothers will make sure it will be the last thing you ever do. Metaphorically speaking of course. 

Switchblade Jesus are a very tight unit indeed. You can tell that through the power of their music. Nothing will get in their way to rock the fuck out. So either come on board or stay out of the way. These guys mean business.

Check out other excellent tracks Sick Mouth, Equinox and Renegade Riders which will have you headbanging all over the place. The riffs are played once again at a fast and furious pace. It will leave you breathless at times. But damn... You can't deny the fun you will have doing it. The blues rock vibe does play a big part in the bands music here. But so does the NOLA based riffs lurking in the background. It's a perfect marriage made in Sludge/Stoner Metal Heaven obviously with Switchblade's lining up as Devil Horns in the air.

Production is immense. No wonder these guys have such a great reputation when the album sounds as good as this.

Well I have listened to my friends recommendations about this excellent band and I thank them for it. Also for Eric contacting me. Praise The Lord - Switchblade Jesus have saved my soul. Hallelujah.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

You can buy the album from the bands BandCamp Page Now. You will be pleased to hear the vinyl release will be later on in the year. They have just inked a deal to release this album on vinyl thru - Kozmik Artifactz/Bilocation Records!!- Congrats guys. Much deserved.


Check out the excellent track - Bastard Son.