In the 1999 sci-fi epic The Matrix, Morpheus offers Neo the choice between a blue or red pill. While Neo infamously chose the red pill and discovered just how deep the rabbit hole that is “reality” went, we here at Defenders of the Faith choose to take the blue pill, or in this case, Blues Pills. The Swedish four piece have spent close to a decade making a name for themselves, even crossing over to American rock radio. Their self titled debut was a hard rocking, by the numbers affair. Their second album, Lady in Gold (2016), saw the addition of soul and R&B to their musical arsenal. Their latest effort, Holy Moly!, will have you saying exactly that with its unique combination of soul, blues, psychedelia, and hard rock. Did I miss anything?
Holy Moly! opens with the headstrong feminist anthem, “Proud Woman”. Sounding like a lost Aretha Franklin single that Cream guested on, “Proud Woman” sets the mood for the rest of the album, a musial trip (figuratively and literally) back in time to roughly 1968. “California” also displays this fuzzed out soul formula, as does the funked up “Kiss My Past Goodbye”. The highlight of these soul/R&B flavored tracks is the dynamic vocals of frontwoman Elin Larsson. She can sing a storm and then some.
Blues Pills aren’t just about bringing the soul back to rock n’ roll. They can rock with the hardest and heaviest too! My choice cut, “Low Road”, is a primitive proto-metal romp boasting shades of Blue Cheer and Deep Purple. “Dreaming My Life Away”, “Rhythm in the Blood”, “Bye Bye Birdy” further cement Blues Pills’ credibility among the denim clad maniacs. These songs are loud, raucous rockers with the swagger of the blues and the balls of old school hard rock.
The remaining tracks on Holy Moly! are delicate with dark undertones. There’s an ominous energy displayed on “Dust” and “Song from a Mourning Dove” that’s just waiting to be heard by Quentin Tarantino so he could use them in his next picture. It’s these undertones that perhaps caused Blues Pills to be lumped into the “occult rock” scene upon their formation, despite being a completely different beast.
From the production to the playing to the composition of the songs themselves, Blues Pills have truly conjured the spirit of flower power. I’m not sure what’s more shocking: That this album came out in 2020 or that Blues Pills hails from Sweden. I’d like to think that somewhere on Haight-Ashbury, a wayward flower child of days past is hearing this album and sparking a joint in approval.
8 out of 10
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Cream, Blue Cheer, Lucifer