Whenever two acts from Alive Naturalsound Records get together to make a record, good things happen. At least, that’s the conclusion I draw from the union of Left Lane Cruiser with Black Diamond Heavies keyboards man James Leg. Painkiller capitalized on a shared passion for raw punk blues that didn’t forget to deliver that with some soul to go with that scream.
Left Lane Cruisers guitarist and frontman Freddy J IV went back to the Black Diamond Heavies lineup for some more inspiration and this time collaborated with their drummer, Van Campbell. They holed up in an LA studio near the Victory Motel and came out with the record named out of that inn, Victory Motel Sessions, due to drop on February 5, 2016.
These sessions didn’t result in music that deviates much from the music of the protagonists’ respective bands in any meaningful way. That’s exactly why it’s the shit. Rugged, raw, heavy blues is what Freddy J and Campbell specialize in, and there’s no point in going away from their strengths.
Gritty riffing is one of their strengths and one recalling Rio Grande Mud-era ZZ Top drives “Rat Time”, in this power blues boogie. Campbell gets “Smoked All My Bud” going with a stomp all his own, and is just as monstrous as Freddy on the instrumental break. A psychedelic, vaguely Latin vibe pervades “Arthur’s Hooked” and ” Suzy’s Cookies” is a nice ‘n’ slow grinder until it’s time to take it up a notch toward its conclusion. Wilko Johnson’s “Keep It Out of Sight” is set to a tough, nasty-assed groove and it would be easy to mistake King Mud for the North Mississippi All Star when they take on The Troggs’ “I Can Only Give You Everything.” The album ending, punk rockin’ “Blood River” is as loud and rowdy as they were at the beginning.
Lack of subtlety doesn’t necessarily mean lack of complexity for King Mud. “Take A Look” thumps hard with Campbell banging like Charlie Watts while Freddy J’s slide carries out a catchy melody in nearly Hawaiian fashion, then the boys slow it down as Freddy lays his emotions bare.
Parker Griggs from another Naturalsound recording artist, Radio Moscow, was on hand to lend a second guitar for a couple of tracks, and an occasional organ or bass can be heard here or there. But this is Freddy J IV and Campbell’s show, and they manage to combine the best elements of their respective bands into some of the most honest, inspired gutbucket blues-rock you’re likely gonna hear this year.