It’s always nice to get a little surprise, and I awoke to one this Saturday. An email asked me to give a listen to the forthcoming album by The Snozzberries. First off, what a great name, bringing me back to my childhood with a nod to Willy Wonka (although be warned if you go looking for the meaning behind the name). Heavy guitars and keyboards slam you on the opening instrumental “Darkness”. A middle eastern feel permeates “Return” which contains an odd vocal, but I like when the voices harmonize for the chorus, and again you have the band at full intensity here. The band drops an atmospheric section with some piano that evolves into a jam with electric piano (great vibe) and a tasty guitar solo. Two songs in and I know we have some fine musicians here. The arrangement is clever, mixing tempos and feel with ease. “Grundle” showcases some tricky intricate playing, all the while maintaining a heaviness that keeps your attention.
The band mixes instrumentals with vocal tracks and it’s a good mix. Talk about a left-hand turn, “Living Without You” has a 70s vibe, a funky soulful vibe, and is the most pop-oriented track here. Based on the prior three songs, it definitely feels out of place, but I like that the band feels like they can throw you a curveball now and then. “Circling The Drain” brings things back to the bands core of hard-rocking intricate music
Energy is key, and The Snozzberries have plenty of that to offer on these nine tracks. I really enjoy the guitar solos in this one, and the bass lines underneath are key. There’s an element of jam band in their blood as this song really stretches out (in a good way) and they showcase their chops.
“Guepardo Morado” has a latin flavor, the piano, guitar and bass are just going for it. The song segues nicely into “Hide”, another song with a 70s groovy funk vibe, and a great electric piano section. A great opening riff kicks off “The Storm”, that guitar / organ combination continues to get me every time. The closing “Biting Through” makes sure to leave you with a good impression, a percussive funky feel throughout, featuring plenty of lead guitar which is always ok in my book.
The Snoozeberries have the chops and attitude, put this in, crank it up, and enjoy the ride!
Track List:
1. Darkness
2. Return
3. Grundle
4. Living Without You
5. Circling The Drain
6. Guepardo Morado
7. Hide
8. The Storm
9. Biting Through