XII Boar - Beyond The Valley Of The Triclops
Hampshire rockers blend garage metal, stoner rock and funk on groove-filled new album
Starting off with vocals that sound like Jonah Hill in the scene from This Is The End, XII Boar's Beyond The Valley Of The Triclops immediately establishes itself as an album that doesn't take itself too seriously. Very loosely following a narrative of a monstrous Triclops, the album sees Motörhead's untamed energy lock horns with the funky riffs of Clutch in a barrage of fun, party-ready metal.
Thriving in the thrilling speedy sections, the Aldershot group's grooves blare out of the speakers, and despite a gritty, down-tuned sound, are naturally infectious to the point where they become irresistible. There's more to them than an overindulgence in gut-punching riffs, however, as they also delve deeply into the world of stoner rock on the likes of 'Strange Kinda Lonesome' and desert rock romp 'Black And Blues', as well as funk-infused bedlam in the later minutes of 'Abyssal Lord'.
XII Boar's heavy-handed macho-isms and risqué album cover are sure to drive some away, but the band seemingly know this and simply don't care. It may not be for everyone, but if you can look past the sometimes unnecessarily muscular sounding moments, there's enough in the way of groovy but still heavy-as-fuck riffs to make this an album very much worth hearing.
7.5/10