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Killing Floor - Rock ‘n’ Roll Gone Mad

Acid Bean Productions / Rockfold Records

www.killingfloor.org

12 songs; 42:58 minutes; Meritable

Styles: Modern Electric Blues-Rock, Rock and Roll

What is more addictive than heroin? It has been said that nicotine can sink its hooks deeper than any other drug. As if to illustrate, the UK’s “Killing Floor” has recorded “Toxic Nipple (One Cigarette).” Disturbingly honest and brutally existential, the song finds the protagonist on his death bed because of smoking; he wants “just one last cigarette before I die … one last smoke before I croak.” One of the Bluesiest numbers, this mid tempo track haunts with Mick Clarke’s shimmering guitar lines above a heart-pounding rhythm while Bill Thorndycraft lays down the convincing vocals. Raspy and seasoned, Thorndycraft’s vocals throughout the CD are anything but sweet or maudlin.

Killing Floor was formed in 1968 and was an active part of the British "Blues boom" of the late 1960s, which produced so many great bands. Over the next four years the band built a strong reputation on the club and college scene in the UK, played major festivals in Europe and backed Texas blues legend Freddie King on two British tours. Two albums were produced early on, both of which have been reissued many times and continue to sell worldwide. In 2003 the original band reformed to produce a new album "Zero Tolerance" and play selected concert dates across Europe.

Killing Floor has now released their fourth album "Rock'n'Roll Gone Mad" earlier in 2012. The current lineup has all four original members: Bill Thorndycraft – vocals, harp, guitar; Mick Clarke – guitar, vocals; Bazz Smith – drums; and Stuart “Mac” McDonald - bass. Blues is in the roots of the songs on this album, but the CD title tells it like it is. Dedicated to the late Hubert Sumlin (although you will find few licks invented by Sumlin), the album features twelve original songs. Overall, there is cocksure, damn-straight pose, a little crash and thrash, some sly humor, but mainly gut-felt rawness. This four-some knows that at their ages, there is no time left to be pussy-footing around (and I can relate to that)! Again, read the title.

The opening track, “Rack My Brain,” challenges the honesty of politicians everywhere with its charging guitar and catchy rhythm. Thorndycraft blows hair-raising harmonica for a rage against xenophobes in another Bluesy number, “Xenophobic Blues.” Headed for some radio airplay is the dance inducing instrumental “Auntie Peggy’s Handbag” featuring Mick Clarke on piano.

The boys must have listened seriously to The Clash and The Ramones as one can hear up-tempo, hard hitting thrash influences in a couple of numbers: the title track, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Gone Mad,” and “Dissatisfied” – the latter a clever list of the narrator’s annoyances.

Let’s be honest, when it comes to Blues and its subsequent Blues-Rock, the Brits ironically “got it” well ahead of most Americans. Not only did Killing Floor get it, they have still got it! If what you want to get is some Brit grit, this is it!

Reviewer James "Skyy Dobro" Walker is a noted Blues writer, DJ, Master of Ceremonies, and Blues Blast contributor. His weekly radio show "Friends of the Blues" can be heard Saturdays 8 pm - Midnight on WKCC 91.1 FM and at www.wkccradio.org in Kankakee, IL.

 

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