The Lord Weird Slough Feg - Radical Man - guest review
The Lord Weird Slough Feg - Radical Man - guest review
Tracklist
01. Intro - The Mask02. High Season I
03. High Season II
04. The Red Branch
05. The Room
06. Headhunter
07. Highway Corsair
08. Radical Man
Guest review by
Blackcrowe December 05, 2024
The San Francisco Bay Area band The Lord Weird Slough Feg, also known as Slough Feg, have released Radical Man to capture some of their finest creative moments. The Lord Weird Slough Feg is one of the most original heavy metal acts; their music is a kind of heavy/power metal, featuring Celtic Irish folk surrounded by philosophical aura and lyrics. The Lord Weird Slough Feg shares pride of place with other cult classic acts, like Manilla Road, Brocas Helm or Twisted Tower Dire.
Mike Scalzi - singer, guitarist, and the last remaining original member - has kept the band alive through continuous lineup changes. Scalzi has become the soul and main composer of The Lord Weird Slough Feg, and Radical Man is a perfect showcase of his commitment to the music and the band. This album captures the spirit of Slough Feg at their creative peak. According to Scalzi, “Radical Man shows an epic band creating music during a time dominated by grunge and Pantera. There was no place for a band like us.”
Radical Man dives into the early years of Slough Feg, revisiting their most prolific and experimental phase. The opening song, “Intro / The Mask”, immediately pulls you in with its epic, anthemic vibe, while Scalzi’s voice channels the power of legends like Mark Shelton. Tracks like “High Season I” and “High Season II” deliver the raw energy of early NWOBHM, while the Celtic melodies in “The Red Branch” highlight the folk influences that have always distinguished Slough Feg as a very interesting band.
The previously unreleased track “Radical Man” introduces a 60s proto-heavy metal-stoner style, mixing riffs with a vintage taste. This song is not part of the band’s traditional sound, but it is a great example of early Slough Feg digging into their roots to create music. The demo version of “Highway Corsair” is a live take on one of the band’s classics, delivered with a hardcore-powered intensity rarely found in their later performances.
The album’s cover, drawn by Scalzi himself, reflects the band’s DIY approach from the beginning of their career to their latest records. The production and sound quality may not be the best, especially on "Highway Corsair", but again Radical Man is a compilation with bootlegs, demos or rarely released tracks.
Slough Feg delivered a heavy metal sound that captivated fans; these fans elevated Slough Feg’s music from that of a regular metal band to cult status.
After hearing Radical Man, I realized that I hadn’t heard Slough Feg in a long time, and it immediately transported me to their world. It reminded me just how good, unique and original that band really is.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written by Blackcrowe | December 05, 2024
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
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