Remember when the kids in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory entered Willy Wonka's place and were spellbound by the wondrous wealth of delicious treats surrounding them? Well, replace said urchins with heavy rock fans, substitute confectionery for pounding, groove-laden riffs and sit Canada's Monster Truck down in the author’s chair and you’ve got this bullshit-crushing beast of a second album.
Coming on like Black Stone Cherry sparring with Clutch - while hurling chunks of stoner rock, grunge and blues into their bubbling cauldron – their 2013 debut, 'Furiosity' dealt in shit-kicking anthems stuffed full of soulful hooks and enough rhythmic power to floor a dozen Tyson Furys. 'Sittin' Heavy' offers more of the same and then some, refining and improving the formula while also exploring new terrain.
“Rock ‘n’ roll might save your life, might save your life tonight,” screams singer Jon Harvey on opening track Why Are You Not Rocking?, a two minute 20 second blitz of thunderous riffs, face melting organ and bone cracking drums. File it under mission statement.
Although that kind of sonic assault is expected – likewise the defiant woah ohs and pugnacious lyrics of The Enforcer – they shift into a different gear on For The People, a skipping southern boogie that resembles an unearthed Lynyrd Skynyrd classic replete with vintage slide licks.
Judging by their name, this album's title and the fact they sell merchandise emblazoned with the slogan 'Don't Fuck With The Truck', you'd be forgiven for thinking subtlety is something this band would kneecap if it dared cross their path. Except, for all the bluster, there's added distinction between each track on this record thanks to more nuanced, and noticeably evolved, songwriting and performances.
The grungy Another Man's Shoes draws its hazy menace from Alice In Chains harmonies, To The Flame's stoner drone drags Black Sabbath through a sludge-filled alligator pit and Black Forest and Enjoy The Time epitomise the stated desire to start stretching their boundaries. Where the former is an exercise in nihilistc doom blues, the latter is an old school R&B slowie that bleeds veracity despite some well-worn carpe diem sentiments.
Their ability to spew out soulful, potent anthemic hooks has hit new heights too, aided by a torrent of irrepressible backing vocals. She's A Witch and Things Get Better are absolutely contagious, while Don't Tell Me How To Live's chorus truly “soars like an eagle”, reinforcing the record's admittedly hackneyed message: life can suck hard, so do what makes you happy and give naysayers the finger.
Monster Truck’s mountainous punch is now delivered with the speed and grace of a heavyweight champion, as opposed to a feisty backstreet brawler. To answer their opening question, if you aren't rocking after listening to 'Sittin' Heavy' you'll probably need to get your ears syringed with a garden hose.
Monster Truck Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue April 05 2016 - LONDON 100 Club
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