GOD BULLIES
GOD BULLIES “As Above, So Below”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Imagine a violent drunk assaulting you at a hellfire revival sermon. That’s what listening to “As Above, So Below” feels like. This is raw, loose noise rock with deep roots in the early 90’s scene. Don’t expect the precision of metal anywhere in this neighborhood...GOD BULLIES head in the opposite direction. This stuff sounds like it was recorded live in the studio.
The BULLIES are straight outta Detroit and they’ve been around a long time. Prior efforts from them came out on Amphetamine Reptile and Alternative Tentacles so you know their noise rock cred is 100%. “As Above, So Below” is their first record in a dog’s age and still has the swagger and stomp of early punk and garage rock. What makes them stand out above similar bands is the maniacal vocal approach of Father Mike Hard, the head BULLY. This guy sounds like Robert Mitchum’s “Night of the Hunter” character after an hours long moonshine bender. His bellowing roars on “I Am Mighty” announce that here is a guy not playing with a full deck. It’s kind of tough to latch onto, especially if you’re used to classic metal singing, but it definitely helps give GOD BULLIES their own personality.
Twelve tracks of loose, loud and sloppy rock to sink your teeth into. Most tracks are driven by the thick oozing bass of Pat O’Harris, which creates some dirty rhythms. There’s almost an industrial GODFLESH like quality to the bass here, but filtered through a JESUS LIZARD noise rock sieve. “Cops In Plain Clothes” and “We Are The Enemy” positively throb with ugly energy. On the other side, “You Never Know” is a kind of twisted rockabilly ballad that I just cannot stomach. Hard’s vocals on this one cross the line into unlistenable.
If you seek that AmRep/AltTentacles/Touch And Go type of sonic stew, you’ll find it here. All others, beware!