10. May Blitz May Blitz 1970 (Vertigo)
Acid Rock-Hard Rock
A long forgotten power-trio.
Overview
In the late 1960s power-trios were all the rage on both sides of the pond, this was largely due to the success of bands such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream and Blue Cheer to name just some. Throughout the following years, power-trios would gain even more momentum and many of these power-trios would also become acclaimed artists in their own right as well. As always there is a flip side to the coin and this would see a number of talented power-trios either missing out on deserved success, lasting for just a short time or becoming largely forgotten, May Blitz would certainly fit into this flip side of the coin category. May Blitz themselves were a British based hard rock band, whose brand of hard rock had a heavy acid-fuelled tarnish about it and they really knew how to play as well from the word go. Like a lot of power-trio bands, their aim was to make the biggest possible noise with just a three man line-up a task that they were easily able to achieve. Like a lot of bands, they had originally made a name for themselves on the UK pub and college circuit before finally getting their record deal with Vertigo. Their best known member at the time, was a certain Tony Newman who with his jazzy infected style had previously played drums on Jeff Beck's highly acclaimed
Ola album a couple of years earlier, Canadians James Black guitar and vocals, along with bassist Reid Hudson completed the line-up. With this line-up the band would go into the studio to release their debut album, not to everybody's taste but certainly to mine.
James Black- Guitar/Vocals
Reid Hudson- Bass
Tony Newman- Drums
Production- May Blitz
Album
Smoking the Day Away- An epic kick-off that gradually builds its way through this 8 minute song, with plenty of melody and a catchy chorus before the band submerge themselves into a series of some highly impressive jamming.
I Don't Know?- Kicks off with some nifty guitar licks before moving into a steady rocker.
Dreaming- Slow and heavy, before it disintegrates into a drug crazed jamming session and then they take their foot off the pedal again, a truly epic song.
Squeet- Starts off as a straight forward track before shooting into another extensive and intense jamming session, this is true pussy licking music.....just love it!
Tomorrow May Come- A very subdued song and a very good track, this was the sort of thing that Wishbone Ash would become masters of.
Fire Queen-Dominated by Tony Newman on drums.
Virgin Waters- The album finishes with this highly distinctive song, with some great guitar overtones and spoken sections by James Black, before the whole thing gradually increases into an intense proggy style crescendo and then fades with the sound of running water.
Verdict
A highly self-indulgent album full of acid-fuelled jamming and very much a product of its time, as said before it's not for everybody, but if you like your music based around heavy jamming and a certain amount of unpredictability then you'll be impressed with this album. The album itself faced disappointing sales at the time possibly due to its haphazard and very self-indulgent feel. The album though, has some very impressive proto-metal tones that are noticeable throughout, along with some really impressive playing and the already mentioned heavy jamming, that was surely influenced at the time by the style of Grand Funk Railroad. Like other bands at this time that failed to make a commercial breakthrough, May Blitz instead of coming back with a tighter sound for their next album, decided to move into a more proggy and space rock direction and this was done with some rather dubious results. May Blitz occupied an interesting period of heavy music history and sadly time would forget them, but they are really worth listening to on this their debut and most honest release.