HEAVY METAL FRUIT

MOTORPSYCHO are a multifaceted band like no other, consisting of prolific musicians who are looking back to more than 20 years of cooperation now. And every album sounds different, bears another concept. 'Heavy Metal Fruit' comprises a strong psychedelic touch this time, additionally decorated with a proper jamming rate. Certainly heavy and according to this the album title hits the nail on the head. But metal? This is causing debates of course. Thumbs up or down? This challenged me to get closer to this album .. and no regrets in the end ... what strikes is that the tracks are not easy to predict, are holding variety indeed.

Well, I've catched the praise, for me as an old-fashioned space rocker the first song Starhammer appears as one of the most attractive. Not due to this grunge/stoner wrapping really. No, the song changes to a relaxed groove in between, sparkling keyboards here, playful guitars there - which evolves to a wonderful psychedelic respectively spacey going in the end. Second one X-3 has much more of a speedy garage rock behaviour, adapted for rocking the crowd during a gig. But this is not all and finally proves them as a band which offers much more than simple straightforward rock music. Hence the second part shows them jamming once more, decorated with trumpet and mysterious vocals which offers a proper experimental attitude.

The Bomb-Proof Roll And Beyond now follows as a heavy psych rocker, rather successful because comprising excellent vocal contributions for example ... and once again they completely vary it all with a cacophonous downfall towards the end. The ballad Close Your Eyes provides some period of time to rest with nice piano backing. W.B.A.T. starts restless, excited, jazzy drums are striking, but then .. unsurpringly in the meantime ... the mood changes and reminds me of Brother Ape a lot furthermore.

Provided with an ambivalent outfit the epic Gullible's Travails partially disappoints - regarding Part 1 and Part 4 who are clearly indie flavoured. The other sections though are doing well then showing a jamming spacey character. MOTORPSYCHO albums are not beyond dispute when it comes to prog standards .. 'Heavy Metal Fruit' proves this again. However - I'm sure the band never has really insisted on playing prog music as such. Nevertheless ... the prog proportion is in the majority here as for my impression. Not an album which can knock my socks off, but quite prolific anyhow while holding some very nice impressions right in the middle of it.