GOZU
GOZU “Remedy”
By Iron Sheik
Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, GOZU deliver a more mature album in “Remedy”. They still play a 70s inspired style of fuzzrock, stoner metal, heavy metal yet with more attention to certain aspects: melody, guitar tone, and harmonized vocals. “Remedy” is the sound of a band growing up but not throwing any unexpected curve balls.
Opening track, “Tom Cruise Control” let's the listener know they are in for a heavy ride. With a fuzzed out heaviness and harmonized vocals throughout; the song sucks the listener right in. Those harmonized vocals for the chorus fit in so perfect against lead vocalist Mark Gaffney's singing. I picked up an ALICE IN CHAINS vibe on this track as well as throughout the rest of the album.
“CLDZ” follows and stomps along with atmospherics. Next track, “Rambo 2”, takes the listener on a slightly thrashy beat yet encompassing all that has gone before it. The amped up speed continues with subsequent songs. Slowing down again with “Ben Cazzara Loves No One”. No matter the fastness of or slower plodding music, TROUBLE era “Manic Frustration” comes to mind on most of the album.
Ending the album is “The Handler” with it's slow plodding stoner doom and atmospherics. Clocking in at nine minutes in length it wraps up an excellent album. BLACK SABBATH, AIC, and TROUBLE nuances are used throughout to great effect. An homage to each band without ripping any of them off. Heavy, greasy, thrashy, stoner metal, doom metal all fit GOZU and their album “Remedy” perfectly.