Right now, Slough Feg is the best pure heavy metal band in America. That's a mighty bold statement to make, but one listen to "Atavism" will back it up. This is as strong a record as will be released in 2005. The band is hardly new but has been lurking around the fringes of the American metal scene, never allying themselves with a big independent label or getting a video on MTV. They seem devoted strictly to making and releasing music on their own terms. Awesome word of mouth has made them a much revered band amongst those metalheads wise enough to know of them, but "Atavism" should see their profile raised sharply.

Formerly known as "the Lord Weird Slough Feg", the band has recently shortened their name and also trimmed some of the fat from their music. To describe the Slough Feg sound is rather difficult, as it hails back to the great, classic days of metal, yet it sounds forward-thinking and fresh as well. At certain points, you will be vaguely reminded of classic Iron Maiden with the melodic twin guitar attack, full-bodied vocals and galloping bass. But it's a superficial comparison. Slough Feg introduce a true "medieval" feeling into their music, with some tracks having an almost Celtic ambience and others sounding like metal that could have been composed in Renaissance days. The strong, distinct voice of Mike Scalzi helps the band maintain its own identity. Scalzi does not scream or growl, but rather croons his songs in the manner of a modern minstrel. By the way, Scalzi and guitarist John Cobbett are also members of the similar and equally excellent Hammers of Misfortune.

There's a delightful feeling of intelligence and eccentricity to Slough Feg's music, as they leap from thrashy instrumentals to classic rock sounding ditties to folk metal workouts. Their knack for injecting elements of past metal glory into a new framework is uncanny, and I cannot believe this band will be condemned to obscurity much longer. This is one of the most highly recommended releases of the year.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2005 Year Book Volume 3 at https://garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2005.