HEAVY METAL FRUIT

'Heavy Metal Fruit' is in many ways an introduction to Motorpsycho for me. Having heard very little of their material before, I was struck straight away by the spacey riff of 'Starhammer'. Although ill-prepared for the improvisations that punctuate the middle of the song, I was pleasantly surprised to drift away until the main theme kicked back in ten minutes later.

'X-3 / The Getway Special' has a much more 70's rock and roll sound, the vocals shifting from Starhammer's grungey tone to a more Led Zeppelin like sound. The pace also picks up significantly.

Other highlights include the full, enveloping sound of 'W.B.A.T'. It is worth investing in a proper sound system to fully appreciate the density of the music. 'Gullible's Travails' harks back at the opener, with a symphonic riff, taking the listener on a trip through space.

The album isn't perfect. At times it is a bit noisy, even a bit messy. Occasionaly, the songs drag on a bit sounding slightly repetitive : you are pressed hard to listen for the subtle differences.

'Heavy Metal Fruit' is, however, an enjoyable listen. At its best, it will push your hi-fi and your ears to the limit. For fans of heavy space rock, this is essential listening. For everyone else, this album is still well worth a listen, just make sure you play it loud on a good hi-fi (having tested it on an ipod, it really doesn't do it justice).