Out of South Wales comes easily one of the best CDs of 2009, Lethargy's Purification (Powerage Rock/Candlelight USA). This quartet are all childhood friends and are spearheaded by Gaz & Andy Hunt (drums & guitar/vocals), along with Phil Humphreys (guitars/vocals) and bassist Marc T. Jones. In a word this second release (their first US release) CRUSHES!! They groove and bash it out like nothing that I've heard in a really long time. But if you need a quick comparison I'd say they remind me of a more rockin' Black Stone Cherry meets Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger (their best CD!) or of the unfortunately unknown amazing band out of Atlanta, Ga., Injected. Lethargy are raw, in your face and groove laden, with amazingly hooky and heavy songs, it's pretty scary. Thank god someone has brought back some good old school rockin'. Refreshing is an understatement.
Discovered by Geoff Barton (of Kerrang/Classic Rock magazine fame) and produced by David Prater (Dream Theater's Images & Words) Purification is a CD that will not make it out of your CD player/iPod anytime soon. Did I mention that this record rules? The 4 members that make up Lethargy are all in their late teens/early twenty's and are seasoned well beyond their young years. The power on this CD is just astounding. From the opening riff of lead off track, aptly named, "Stealth", to 2nd track, "Innocence Serene" with its infectious, dead tight rhythm that immediately hits you is just brilliant. CD Producer, Prater does an excellent job of capturing the earthy essence that is Lethargy while at the same time delivering an aurally stimulating CD. Drums pound you in the chest, bass is clearly audible and thumping, guitars cut through and vocals are loud & clear. Can you ask for anything more? Did I mention that this record rules?
Another thing that makes this CD so special are the searing vocals that are all over Purification. Passionate, searing and perfectly harmonized from track to track, it is so great to hear actual singing and not just singing, vocals that sound like they are could be the last notes ever uttered. God damn do these guys just bring it! There really isn't anything that I can kind fault in here. Out of the 11 songs on Purification, most are to the point and somewhat short, with only one song clocking in over 6 minutes and another over 5. No pretentiousness here. Lethargy have managed to craft out heavy rocking songs while being very melodic and catchy. Check out other highlight tracks like the heavy as hell, "Convenient Ignorant Amnesia", the powerful romper with those excellently executed vocals, "Ideal Orphans", opus "I See Man's End in His Construction" or the beautiful piano that is in CD closer "Fragile Crystal Dream. There very simply is NOT one dud of a track on Purification!
Purification is an amazing debut for us here in the US. Lethargy have taken the '70's Hard Rock approach and smacked it up the ass with a modern attitude and has come up with an utterly passionate record full of excellent songs and great musicianship. I truly hope that these guys get a fair chance here in the States, because a band like this needs to be heard. There are too many others over the years that had what it took but didn't get their chance (i.e. the aforementioned INJECTED..c'mon America!!). Lethargy are a band ready to explode and I for one hope that they do, they've earned it. If you like your Hard Rock straight ahead with an edge and no bullshit, then Lethargy is your band. Another UK band poised to make some noise.
Did I mention that this record rules?!
5 HUGE Stars!!!!
Track Listing
1. Stealth
2. Innocence Serene
3. A Lost Adoration
4. Ideal Orphans
5. 14:9
6. Convenient Ignorant Amnesia
7. I See Man's End In His Construction
8. Inertia
9. Bleachin' Bones
10. Purification
11. Fragile Crystal Dream
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