Muleface
The 40 Ft. Eagle (CD) 2005 None
Muleface may be from Tennessee, but despite their name and state of origin, they are not about imitating Corrosion of Conformity or Alabama Thunderpussy, nor are they about spouting stale Skynyrdisms or rehashing the Allman Brothers' hash. Southern rock is just part of the mix with these dudes; the fact is, they've really done their homework on a variety of bands and sounds that have made the stoner/doom community a font of good music, not to mention financial desperation. The thing that brings it all together on 'The 40 Ft. Eagle' is a solid allegiance to the riff: they run with it, they harmonize to it, they pound it into your 'effin skull! But always with a finesse to their power, a certain intelligence. Clean vocals and harmonies are laid over waves of delicious distortion and solid rhythm. No, it's not perfect (the last tune, 'Dead Man's Hand,' drags a bit) but it's damned good and far better than anyone has a right to expect. They've got a solid love of classic rock a la 'Zoso-' era Zep, a dash of the southern (both old and new), and an affection for Sabbath, Kyuss, Orange Goblin, and just about any other major riff mongers you can imagine. I love it when something like this comes out of left field, lighting up my day with groovy delight and forcing my face into a (more) idiotic grin. Muleface has the goods, and with another year or two of gigging and songwriting under their collective belts, they'll be ready to level your home town. How about a Tennessee Tour,' featuring Muleface and... um... Place of Skulls? I can hear it now, metal thundering in the distance......	1. The Grifter 2. 40 Ft. Eagle 3. Shithead 4. Revolution is Mine 5. Dead Man's Hand Approx. 20 minutes
Reviewed by: Kevin McHugh