Ladyfinger (NE)
Heavy Hands
(Saddle Creek)
First Appeared in The Music Box, September 2006, Volume 13, #9
Written by John Metzger
Ladyfinger (NE)’s debut Heavy Hands makes up for its lack of subtlety
with the punishing intensity of its raw, visceral delivery. The band begins its
relentless charge by storming out of the gate with the explosive fury of
Smuggler, and subsequent songs — Cause of Shame, Who Believes
Enough?, and Too Cool for School, among them — wield a similar brand
of wildly thrashing, exuberantly bombastic potency. In fact, by the time the set
has ended, the ensemble effectively has connected the early, heavy metal
escapades of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple with the more progressive leanings of
Iron Maiden and the rapid-fire mayhem of Motörhead. Lyrically, Ladyfinger (NE) touches upon the disillusion of America’s working
class, and taken in combination with its aural assault, the album conveys the
turbulence that inevitably grows from chronic disaffection. While the group’s
blend of crunchy rhythms, writhing guitars, and tormented vocals is certainly
nothing new, its post-punk angst not only serves to keep much of Heavy Hands
aloft, but it also allows the outfit to join label-mate Cursive in providing a
counterpunch to Saddle Creek’s typically brooding, indie rock fare. ½
Heavy Hands is available from Barnes & Noble.
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2006 The Music Box