THE GOLDEN GODS
"The
Thorny Crown of Rock and Roll" (24 Hour Entertainment; 2005)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
If you're looking for a retro rock'n'roll sound that's not so retro that it sounds like the soundtrack to some movie about bad drug trips but not so modern that it sounds more like Pearl Jam than Deep Purple, then The Golden Gods "The Thorny Crown of Rock and Roll" might be just what you're looking for.
"Thorny Crown" is eleven solid tracks of crashing guitars, arena rock rhythms and rock god vocals that kick ass in an way that's unapologetically old school without ever becoming campy. In other words, it's a lot like The Darkness without the yodeling.
There are moments here when the music borders on becoming stoner rock but it's never slow or sludgy ... it's just a little fuzzy-edged, like vintage Black Sabbath. More often than not, the pace is much faster than what you'd expect from a stoner band or even Sabbath themselves. And the final track, a rousing cover of Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move," closes the CD on a perfect note.
Over all, "Thorny Crown" is a balls-out rock'n'roll CD that never fails to deliver, especially if you're a fan of the sound. And, after just one listen, you just might be.
The Golden Gods: Simon Scott - vocals/guitar; Dynamite Dan Trilk - bass / vocals; Shelton Richards - drumkit / vocals.
For more information, check out www.thegoldengods.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2005 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 18 Mar 2024 13:45:57 -0500.
