HEAVY METAL FRUIT

Motorpsycho are a Norwegian band who have been around since 1989. Their discography is big, but this is the first album of theirs I have heard. They even made an album with members of Jaga Jazzist. I'm not sure what their earlier albums sound like, but on Heavy Metal Fruit they are a cross between '60s psych and '70s heavy metal. Some of the keyboards and guitar effects are more modern, putting them closer to 'stoner rock' at times. I generally don't like the lead vocals much but the harmony vocals are usually well done.

"Starhammer" opens the album with a few minutes of almost nothing; barely audible sounds come and go very randomly. Some symphonic rock which quickly changes to a riff that wouldn't sound out of place on a Sabbath album. Along with some vocals. After 3 1/2 minutes starts a cool part with eerie backup vocals at first. A guitar solo later on. Love the sound of the bass for this whole part. The music builds up and dies down before another guitar solo. The music starts to build up again, eventually going back to the Sabbath riff and the symphonic rock part.

"X-3 (Knuckleheads In Space) / The Getaway Special" starts off as a very retro late '60s style boogie rock. Folk-rocky chorus. Some atmospheric keyboards in the background later. A very fuzzy late '60s guitar solo. Over halfway switches to a Greatful Dead like jam with some trumpet. "The Bomb-Proof Roll And Beyond (for Arnie Hassle)" is a catchy song. I like the counterpoint vocals. In the middle gets spacey then becomes a noisy cacophony. Eventually goes back to the main song. Love the overdubbed a capella vocals at the end.

"Close Your Eyes" is the most contemporary sounding song. A mediocre piano-based ballad, nothing special. "W.B.A.T." has a cool mix of jazzy drumming and 'stoner' guitar playing at the beginning. Gets louder and more cacaphonous before a drum roll leads to another riff worthy of Sabbath. Vocals now. Lyrics are pretty catchy. Later a guitar solo. Some acoustic guitars appear and it goes into a more melodic and poppy part before going back to the Sabbath like riff. The melodic poppy part comes back with great electric guitar lines.

At 21 minutes, "Gullible's Travails (pts I-IV)" is the longest track. It begins with guitar feedback along with acoustic guitar and piano. Goes into some guitar playing that reminds me of Soundgarden. Then settles into a groove with vocals. Alternates between the Soundgarden guitars and the groove. Gets more melodic and 'chorus' like before 5 minutes. Later changes to acoustic guitars and melodic bass with some female vocals. Then male vocals. Nice flute during this part. Later a cool bass line and spacey guitar effects. A guitar solo after awhile. Guitar and keys start playing a new riff in unison before the music gets more loose. Then it goes back to the 'chorus' like part. Orchestra and/or orchestra-like keyboard sounds start to increase in volume. Band dies out and then a quieter orchestra.

This is isn't too bad of an album, but they are not going to win any points for originality. If you enjoy 'retro-prog' or modern 'stoner rock', you may like this. There are some great moments spread out unevenly over the album. But not enough for me. I'll give this 3 stars.