OK...I've got to embarrassingly admit that though I've known about this band for many years, Digital Resistance is the first time I have ever listened to them. Shame on me, yes, let me have it. Truth is, better late than never, and I'm glad I've finally discovered the wonderfulness of Slough Feg, the San Francisco, CA by way of Pennsylvania four piece band who play a form of classic metal/hard rock sprinkled with Celtic elements. Digital Resistance is a fun, headbanging delight, as bits of Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Manilla Road, Cirith Ungol, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden float into their otherwise unique sound. This is the bands first release on Metal Blade Records after years with Cruz Del Sur.
Digital Resistance is somewhat of a concept album dealing with the dangers of allowing technology to take over too much of our lives. Plenty of galloping rhythms and loads of Thin Lizzy/Iron Maiden inspired twin guitar leads & harmonies to be found throughout such stellar tracks as "Curriculum Vitae", "Magic Hooligan", and "Ghastly Appendage", and the vocals of Michael Scalzi perfectly fit the anthemic, fist pumping nature of these songs. The Celtic flavors that Slough Feg employ work like magic on tunes such as "The Luddite" and "Warriors Dusk", so much so that I can imagine any fan of classic Thin Lizzy or recent Three Inches of Blood will instantly fall in love with this stuff. The guitar riffs from Scalzi & Angelo Tringali are chugging and inventive, with no shortage of sizzling leads and those glorious twin harmonies sprinkled in every song.
So, in summary, my first introduction to Slough Feg is a more than positive one, and I'll no doubt be investigating their back catalog in short order. For a fine example of 'true' metal, make sure you pick up a copy of Digital Resistance immediately.
Track Listing
- Analogue Avengers / Bertrand Russell's Sex Den
- Digital Resistance
- Habeas Corpsus
- Magic Hooligan
- Ghastly Appendage
- Laser Enforcer
- The Price Is Nice
- Curriculum Vitae
- The Luddite
- Warriors Dusk