HEAVY METAL FRUIT

Let's jump in the water without any preparation (introduction). Let's face it, I consider them Psychedelic. I feel like tripping (even I never did drugs in my life) and Starhammer seems like nice ........ (10 minutes later): Oh well, where have I been last ten minutes ? It seems like I was literally tripping, enjoying music, waving in the rhythm of hypnotic drums and whistling (yes, I whistle a lot, I'm The One Legged Whistler). Really heavy "stuff".

I'm starting to realize why there are so high opinions. After few listens, I'm still not completely decided, but no less than 4 stars (really). X-3 (Knuckelheads In Space) is a strange one. Extremely fast in pace, on a first look sounds all through its four minutes the same, but when you "look" and examine it closely, it's diverse. Strange one, second part of the song is calmer jamming. Later on, we can finally realize why they are under Eclectic category. But still, this psychedelic line is clearly to hear through entire album. Final epic is truly epic, because not even they continue in their "full-of-variety" style, but also transcend to something different, Symphonic ending guys and girl, that's something unheard before.

4(+), undefinable experience. Let's try it for yourselves.

Prog experience for new and old Proggers altogether.

EDIT June 2010 - 0.5 decrease.

During last 2 decades Scandinavia became major world centre of progressive music. Partially Norway is a home of almost all leading nu jazz/nu fusion musicians. It shows local music scene is active and innovative.

Motorpsycho is another Norwegian band, mixing all possible styles in one. Vintage blues-rock and r'n'b, some old school psychedelic prog, spacey sounds, hard'n'heavy, jamming, jazz- rock, etc. Even if in many cases the basic sound is guitar indie rock.

When started listening this album, I was a bit disappointed. Few first songs are real guitar indie rock, even with grunge influention. Not the best element for progressive brew. But step by step this music attracted me more and more. Not too often you can find between modern recordings so different and unpredictable music! Possibly, it's difficult to speak about band's style, whenever each song is different. Or let say their style is just all possible (mostly vintage prog) styles in one. Only common component in almost all songs is dirty guitar sound.

Possibly, not most classic progressive rock album, but with strong smell of early 70-s - the time when progressive rock was still really innovative and progressive. OK, one can say this album's music is deeply rooted in traditions from 70-s and hardly brings something really new. Yes, it's true, but "it smells like a teen's spirit" ...

Motorpsycho have really been working hard for the last couple of years! Releasing three albums in under two years fully loaded with the mix of Experimental Psychedelic Hard Rock that the band have been moving towards since the Experimental Alternative Rock days of Trust Us. There is no denying that Heavy Metal Fruit has stirred up quite a few emotions ever since its early 2010 release date and so I felt obligated to revisit this old friend of a band just to see what the fuss was all about.

It's true that I haven't heard much from Motorpsycho before or after their 2 CD 1998-album Trust Us, with an exception of an occasional sample track here and there, and so I honestly didn't know what to expect from the new sound that the band have become so famous for at this stage of their career. The album begins with a prolonged intro of Starhammer that after almost 1,5 minutes of silence finally transitions into a Stoner Rock tune. This is of course not everything that Motorpsycho has to offer us over the course of this almost 13 minute long compositions and once the heavy guitar sound settles down we get into a very pleasant experimental jam section that lasts until the last minutes where the band finally gets back to Stoner Rock. Not really what I was expecting but that's definitely not a bad thing!

X-3 (Knuckelheads In Space) / The Getaway Special is a much simpler upbeat rock tune that isn't all that exciting from a progressive point of things. Still, the band manages to change their direction halfway through the composition by adding on another pleasant experimental jam session with smooth trumpet work and playful guitar sounds. The Bomb-Proof Roll And Beyond (for Arnie Hassle) is another surprise of a sorts that reminds me more of the band's '90s sound than what they were offering on Heavy Metal Fruit until now. That is not to say that Motorpsycho have been all that consistent up to this point either. The track becomes pretty psychedelic towards the end with a lot of noise targeted straight at the listener.

Close Your Eyes caught me completely off guard at first because I actually had to double check that my player hadn't skipped to some obscure Radiohead ballad! This was of course not the case, instead Motorpsycho have once again shown just how versatile they have become. W. B. A. T. is probably the closest that this album comes to sounding progressive even though the composition does fall in a much more familiar rock territory towards its second part. Gullible's Travails (pt I - IV) was a bit of a disappointment for me since it wasn't more than just a nice prolonged jam and not the fleshed out six-parter epic I was expecting from this 20+ minute composition.

It seems that the direction Motorpsycho have been going for lately has given them quite a few new followers. Personally I prefer almost everything I've heard on Trust Us over this new material since nothing here truly captures my imagination. Still, there's no denying that the band have created something quite unique with this release and so no less than a good, but non-essential rating on my part is in order here.

**** star songs: Starhammer (12:57) The Bomb-Proof Roll And Beyond (for Arnie Hassle) (6:02) Close Your Eyes (3:40) W. B. A. T. (9:44) Gullible's Travails (pt I - IV) (20:42)

*** star songs: X-3 (Knuckelheads In Space) / The Getaway Special (9:04)

It is very hard for me to write down a review of an album I dislike so much. That kind of album is Heavy Metal Fruit by Motorpsycho. It is really unbearable for me! I postponed my writing of this album's review for about two or three months, because I had to listen to the album one more time. I have written a review half year ago, but than deleted it because it was very subjective and insulting to the album. Later I tried to give another chance, but it totally has failed. The combination of sounds is absolutely unreceptive to my soul.

The genre of the album is blend of hard rock and psychedelic rock with some blues themes. Regretfully, that combination doesn't worked out with me! Heavy Metal Fruit is quite long for an album with so much repetitions and predictable ideas and all of that makes it highly boring. The last thing I have to say about the album is that all of the songs are quite simple with 3-4 different chords each. That's my opinion of the album. 1 star

Motorpsycho's HMF is an addictive rock album that turned out to be a rather controversial entry in PA. It doesn't conform to the classic definition of prog and it certainly hasn't got anything ado with symphonic prog, for many still the one and only. No, HMF is a heavy rock album with influences stretching from dirty stoner rock to psych, jazz and space-rock. I have only a scattered knowledge of Motorpsycho's background. Their albums never entirely convinced me so far. That changed with Little Lucid Moments from 2008. The band let in much more room for improvisations and jams, and stretched the format and musicality of the Motorpsycho sound quite a bit in the process.

I guess they will be duly punished for not conforming to prog expectations or for merely existing on PA, but that doesn't matter. The most important thing is that their passage here has awakened some interest. If that results in one extra fan, it's already a success as far as I'm concerned. In an attempt to tease you, allow me to throw all band names that I know at you now.

After a minute of silence, Starhammer kicks in with a heavy Crimsonite theme, sounding as if it came straight out of one of Anekdoten's early albums. Before long they set into a bluesy Sabbath plod with a psychedelic harmonic vocal lead. A long improvisation follows with some post-rock and jazzy touches. I deliberately use the word 'improvisation' and not 'jam'. This is not the predictable bass and drum groove that a guitar player can shred on, all musicians are in this one together and interact freely. It starts subdued but gradually builds to a forceful space-rock outburst. Early Hawkwind and Floyd would have been very proud about this one. Near the end, the verse and Crimsonite theme are repeated. What a monster!

Time to kick up the pace. X-3 sounds as if Can (from the Malcolm Moony years) would do a Blue Oyster Cult tune. Southern rock but played loose, dirty and wild. Also the gritty rock of The Black Crows come to mind. It has a delicious uplifting chorus with strong harmonic vocals. It has a more traditional verse-chorus structure, at least till a noisy finale gives way to The Getaway Special, another jazz-post-rock improvisation with Mathias Eick guesting on trumpet.

The Bomb-Proof Roll and Beyond starts out with dreamy vocal line on one of their vintage stoner riffs. This is what Queens of the Stone Age could sound like if they didn't try so hard to be a pop band. Motorpsycho make the difference with the lush psychedelic keyboards and beautiful vocal harmonies with every band member joining in on the vocals. They open up the song to let in some very avant-garde sonic explosions.

Close Your Eyes is a delicate ballad on piano, the kind that also Jeff Buckley and Ryan Adams can thrill me with. It offers a short moment of contemplation, perfectly placed in the middle of the album.

W.B.A.T. starts with a frenzied drum-heavy free-jazz part, similar to the start of Van Der Graaf's Arrow, only with guitar soling here instead of the sax. It gets quite dissonant and is guaranteed to annoy symphonic fans. It changes to one of the best tributes to Sabbath I have heard. Motorpsycho's roots are in the stoner-rock branch and this song sure bears witness to that. It strongly reminds me of A National Acrobat from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, complete with vintage riffs, Ozzyan vocals, thick pounding drums and prominent bass guitar. It ends on a highly psychedelic note with an almost Yessian symphonic touch. Hej, prog!

As if the stellar songwriting that preceded wasn't enough, we still got the 20 minute epic ahead! Well yes epic? It has a multi-part structure but of course it's Motorpsycho so much of it is assigned to improvisations. After a short opening with Zeppeliny Eastern-tinged guitars and violins, the first part is a very melodic and slightly shoegazer type of song. It's very inspired, delicate and memorable. Spacey Floydian guitars bridge to a second part with acoustic guitars, flutes and hazy vocals. A bit before halfway, Motorpsycho amply display what fine musicians they are on a lengthy improvised space-trip ending in an orgiastic orchestral climax. Kraut and space fans lick your fingers!

So far, my pick for 2010 and one of the best space-rock album I've heard in ages. Kyuss and Monster Magnet fans will already own this, high recommendations go out to daring fans of kraut, space-rock, heavy prog and the likes.

Interesting music. For about one listen. One song at a time. Otherwise, it becomes monotonous. HAWKWIND and BAND FROM OUTER SPACE and even CAN lovers will probably like this; The Flaming Lips and Ozrics lovers, maybe. Gong, Egg, Eloy, and Floyd lovers may not. (AT least, that's my opinion.) The recording/engineering is a bit too raw for my tastes. Still, I like the variety of song styles and tempos. I just don't find myself craving more--wanting to here it again and again. Oh, well. To each his own! Three stars: Good, but non-essential. Certainly not the best album of a year! (What a poor year that would be!)

I'm not sure who's idea it was to start off the album with almost 1 1/2 minutes of silence but they should be up for the "Dick of the Year" award. I mean come on what's the purpose ? If it was at the end of the song I could skip it but any prolonged silence on any album i've heard is a huge negative as far as i'm concerned. Anyway when the music does come in it's fairly heavy and vocals join in around 2 minutes. It settles after 4 minutes then starts to build 6 1/2 minutes in but then settles back again. Good section after 10 minutes as it gets a little heavier with guitar soloing over top. Vocals are back 11 1/2 minutes in. "V-3 (Knuckleheads In Space) / The Getaway Special" is catchy but not very good. Too poppy and I don't like the harmonies.Thankfully it changes after 5 minutes with intricate guitar, trumpet and drums.

"The Bomb-Proof Roll And Beyond" is nice and heavy to start, vocals after a minute. A spacey calm after 2 1/2 minutes. It kicks back in quickly and it's chaotic. Vocals are back. "Close Your Eyes" opens with piano as reserved vocals join in. Not a fan. "W.B.A.T." features relentless drumming early. A change after 3 minutes and vocals arrive. Heavy guitar and bass too. "Gullibee's Travails (Pt.I-IV)" settles in after 1 1/2 minutes and vocals join in. A calm after 6 minutes. Female vocals before 7 1/2 minutes. It starts to pick up 9 1/2 minutes in. This is good. Vocals are back after 15 minutes but not for long.

While there are some good sections they are far and few between. Definitely for fans only as far as i'm concerned. The cover art sucks too.

MOTORPSYCHO are a multifaceted band like no other, consisting of prolific musicians who are looking back to more than 20 years of cooperation now. And every album sounds different, bears another concept. 'Heavy Metal Fruit' comprises a strong psychedelic touch this time, additionally decorated with a proper jamming rate. Certainly heavy and according to this the album title hits the nail on the head. But metal? This is causing debates of course. Thumbs up or down? This challenged me to get closer to this album .. and no regrets in the end ... what strikes is that the tracks are not easy to predict, are holding variety indeed.

Well, I've catched the praise, for me as an old-fashioned space rocker the first song Starhammer appears as one of the most attractive. Not due to this grunge/stoner wrapping really. No, the song changes to a relaxed groove in between, sparkling keyboards here, playful guitars there - which evolves to a wonderful psychedelic respectively spacey going in the end. Second one X-3 has much more of a speedy garage rock behaviour, adapted for rocking the crowd during a gig. But this is not all and finally proves them as a band which offers much more than simple straightforward rock music. Hence the second part shows them jamming once more, decorated with trumpet and mysterious vocals which offers a proper experimental attitude.

The Bomb-Proof Roll And Beyond now follows as a heavy psych rocker, rather successful because comprising excellent vocal contributions for example ... and once again they completely vary it all with a cacophonous downfall towards the end. The ballad Close Your Eyes provides some period of time to rest with nice piano backing. W.B.A.T. starts restless, excited, jazzy drums are striking, but then .. unsurpringly in the meantime ... the mood changes and reminds me of Brother Ape a lot furthermore.

Provided with an ambivalent outfit the epic Gullible's Travails partially disappoints - regarding Part 1 and Part 4 who are clearly indie flavoured. The other sections though are doing well then showing a jamming spacey character. MOTORPSYCHO albums are not beyond dispute when it comes to prog standards .. 'Heavy Metal Fruit' proves this again. However - I'm sure the band never has really insisted on playing prog music as such. Nevertheless ... the prog proportion is in the majority here as for my impression. Not an album which can knock my socks off, but quite prolific anyhow while holding some very nice impressions right in the middle of it.

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.

After the release and recording for the band's more alternative oriented anniversary album, Motorpsycho gets back on track with more progressive rock music. This time around, they sort of shift back a bit to a more heavier, grungy sound that originated from their first three records, specifically Demon Box. Unlike those days, they have improved on their songwriting and playing techniques considerably over the past 19-20 years, and so we get one of their heavier, but still masterfully created albums yet.

Take this what you will, imagine if the stoner rock/metal of Sleep's Dopesmoker merged with the neo- psychedelic jams of Thee Oh Sees, plus a sprinkling of the space infused atmospheres composed by SBB, and a topping of the heavy psych movements of Hawkwind, and you get yourself Heavy Metal Fruit, as this is, in my mind, one of Motorpsycho's finest works. Each song on here is played to a very masterful degree of expertise, ranging from slow, stoner jams, to more fast paced songs that make me want to come back for more. I find that each song takes its sweet time in composing and playing, so that by the end, you feel like you've been on an amazing journey of sorts, and I absolutely love that kind of stuff in my progressive rock records.

I just absolutely love the heavier direction this album composes. The band was right when they named this album 'Heavy Metal Fruit', as this album just screams super well made heavy psych prog that can rival some of the best jam bands. I especially love the first two songs of Starhammer and X-3 (Knuckleheads in Space). Starhammer is just this big, 12 minute extravaganza of stoner metal jams that never gets boring in the slightest. Just the amount they work with in that song is crazy, and it only solidifies the band's immaculate image in my eyes.

X-3 (Knucklesheads in Space) is also another really great song on here. Just how it weaves through these super shimmering space rock jam sessions, to these almost laid back guitar and trumpet movements that contain more ambience than a Brian Eno song, and how it ends by swelling up with these weird, almost Echoes-like sounds that transition into the next song of The Bomb-Proof Roll and Beyond just leaves a lasting impression on me.

I think it would also be criminal not to talk about the 20 minute epic of Gullible's Travails. This era of Motorpsycho, the band has really started amping up on their epics, and they, so far, have been some of the best parts of the albums they are in. Just how each part carefully weaves through these magical, psychedelic, and very space heavy progressions, with build ups and playing styles that could rival the likes of Uriah Heep, Amon Duul II, and Elder, and an otherworldly momentum of beauty towards the end, it all composes to a song worthy of being called a prog rock epic. I absolutely love it, and it is by far one of the band's best works of music.

This album is not only a masterpiece of progressive rock standards, but the 3rd masterpiece the band put out in their long careers as legendary musicians. This album is an essential record that deserves any and all love it can get. I have bit into the heavy metal fruit, and I am loving the sweet taste of it.