HOFORS 1975

It doesn't get much better than this. SBB left Poland for a tour of Sweden back in May of 1975 and they played some of the most amazing music I've ever heard on that tour. I consider their "Karlstad" live album as my favourite from them and it was recorded on this tour, as was this archival release "Hofors '75". Hofors was a small industrial town in Sweden at the time which may account for the song titles. This might be the most impressive power trio of them all when it comes to live music and yes RUSH is my favourite band.

We get two long suites starting with "Works In Iron I" an almost 21 1/2 minute tour de force. It starts off innocently enough as sounds come and go until the organ starts to come to a boil as the drums pound. So good as some vocal expressions come and go. Guitar after 1 1/2 minutes. Crank it up! The vocals kick in at 2 1/2 minutes as the organ floats in the background and the drums pound. The organ comes to the fore when the vocals step aside. Love the drumming here after 5 1/2 minutes as the organ continues to run at will. The tempo picks up some around 6 1/2 minutes and check out the determined rhythm 8 1/2 minutes in as that becomes the focus. Some nasty organ runs return after 9 minutes as we get a yell from the singer. The intensity is rising at 10 1/2 minutes and the guitar starts to light it up. It then slows down as the organ boils and the drums pound, vocals before 12 minutes. It starts to pick up after 16 minutes as the vocals stop. Check out the guitar around 17 minutes. The organ starts to rip it up 18 minutes in as the guitar continues.

"Works In Iron II" is the 20 minute closer. The organ is on a slow boil as a beat joins in. Some guitar too then vocals a minute in. The vocals are bluesy. The guitar becomes more prominent after 4 minutes. It's so powerful and repetitive after 6 minutes with vocal melodies. A calm after 7 minutes but check out the fast paced drumming. Some organ joins in briefly then intricate guitar followed by more vocal melodies then bam! We're nailed to the wall with some killer organ, drums and guitar all after 10 minutes. Nice. The tempo picks up a minute later and I love when the organ joins in after 12 minutes. So freaking good! A change 15 minutes in to an almost doomy vibe briefly, so dark and intense here. The drumming is mind blowing 16 minutes in along with those filthy organ runs. The guitar is back! It's building in intensity again before it starts to wind down late with keys ending it.

The power on display here gives me goosebumps. They do contrast passages well but man the drumming and organ especially create mass destruction throughout. Not worthy!