Here’s one for you to check out. A band by the name of Scarecrow who hail from the faraway Perm in Russia.
Thanks to vocalist (also harmonica and flute) who got in touch and kindly sent me a review copy of their eponymous album.
Way back in the good old days, I mean 1970s, we had (and in some cases still have today) bands like Black Sabbath, Budgie, Uriah Heep and Jethro Tull.
Well, Scarecrow sound not dissimilar to the ultimate offspring of a multiple breeding program between all the aforementioned.
A sort of “modern retro rock”.
It’s all here. The big, crunching, driving fuzzy riffs of an Iommi, a Bougre and a Box all mixed in with a proggy/folksy Anderson. The band has something a little different these days and a welcome listen.
A folk/prog instrumental starts us off before the massive intro to The Journey blasts in. Powerful stuff. Monstrous dark chords behind a bit of a “freak out” guitar and the whole song powers along. Have a listen:
What follows is equally as bombastic. Dark, brooding, bleak in parts. The mixing in of the folky Tull style stuff breaks it up well and adds variety. Such is the onslaught that the gentle instrumental later on is nice respite to give the ears a bit of a rest.
Scarecrow stretch their collective musical muscle further on the two closing tracks. Madman has a monster fuzz-riff which Mick Box would be proud to have come up with. But Scarecrow make it in a style of their own.
Then we have the eponymous title track to see us out. More sledgehammer retro-riffage and the twist and turns of the prog/folksy elements coming in along the way concluding in an extended outro featuring some quite blistering guitar work.
For an old git like me who grew up on Heep, Budgie, Tull etc. Scarecrow have it nailed. It’s welcome to find a band who sound like they are from the 1970s yet with a fresh sound and style.
Scarecrow on Bandcamp (buy CD or download version):
https://scarecrow-official.bandcamp.com/album/scarecrow
And here’s the band’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Scarecrow.RockBand
Do check out the band. A heartily recommended listen form a most promising outfit.