Album Review: High on Wheels - Monkey
Reviewed by Matthew Williams
As soon as I pressed play on the opening track “Get Down” a huge smile appeared on my face as this is a foot stomping, head banging, fist pumping slab of furious desert rock from French trio High on Wheels. They’ve been around for a decade or so, and have a reputation for delivering electrifying live shows, so I have added them to my list of “must-see” bands.
The magic is there for all to see, as they weave their melodies for our audible pleasure, with the standout being the blistering bass line from Tantot Gilles that rips through the opening track, and it’s as good as anything you’ll hear. Now, as song titles go, this is up there with one of the best, “The Monkey who dipped his balls in my Whisky” but they back it up with a heavy riff and vocals that remind me of Scissorfight in their pomp.
They go on a bit more of a journey with “Lost in Space”, quite ironic given the title, but the three headed beast which consists of Beaumont Gregoire (drums/vocals), Guerra Bruno (guitar/vocals) and the aforementioned Gilles on bass/vocals, combine to deliver a fiery little number which relaxes nicely in the middle section, with a calming bass, that then moves into something more atmospheric allowing the solo to dominate proceedings.
They have more stoner-based musings on “Sinking Too Much”, delivering a shorter blast of feistiness, with three voices, three instruments, all working as one component, to produce soundscapes that need to be heard. There’s a huge guttural roar near the end which is chilling but I just love the way they deliver their music. “Black Sands” sounds more expressive, with a simple drumbeat introducing the song, and you’ll be nodding along appreciatively in no time at all. They are doing the simple things very well, and don’t over complicate their music, as they fill them with grit and groove. Oh yes, and plenty of high-octane energy!!!
This pattern continues with penultimate track “Wolf Dog” as they violate your senses from all angles on this mighty track. Their composition is impressive, and it allows the vocal to take control on the verses instead of battling with the musicality. It’s a weighty track and you can hear the triumvirate demonstrate their talents sufficiently.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and they conclude with a nine minute creation called “Arrakis”. There’s a throaty, husky vocal and the track is delivered in several distinctive parts, each intertwined to make one fantastic song. It’s the most expressive and diverse track on the album, with inserted vocal extracts, (I’m assuming from Frank Herbert’s Dune series), which are spoken over slower guitar sections, to create a realm of fantasy that will linger long after you’ve stopped listening.
