“Nobody knows the band Grand Funk? The wild, shirtless lyrics of Mark Farner? The bong-rattling bass of Mel Schacher? The competent drum work of Don Brewer? Oh, Man!” – Homer Simpson
If you’re a Grand Funk diehard like me, you’ve voiced the lament of Homer Simpson on multiple occasions. There are many reasons why the Flint hard rock powerhouse has been all but forgotten by younger generations. Classic schlock radio downsized their vast catalog to a handful of focus tested songs. The unceremonious ousting of Mark Farner over 20 years ago further salted the wound. In the time since, Grand Funk (Mel Schacher and Don Brewer) have settled for washout status by playing every local corndog carnival this side of the Mississippi. Many times I’ve asked myself: What if Mark, Don, and Mel were able to put aside their differences for one last album and tour? Surely, they still have it in them. What would that album sound like? Leave it to Sweden’s Dictator Ship to answer that question.
In a time where the heavy 70s are the flavor of the day, Dictator Ship takes us back to the swinging 60s. Metal historians usually pinpoint the genre’s early stages (proto-metal) with the arrival of psychedelic hard rock circa 1967. However, the roots go back even further. Hard rock was arguably born in the first half of the 60s. British invasion acts such as The Yardbirds and The Small Faces played a gutsy, soulful, loud brand of blues rock that set the stage for Led Zeppelin and Grand Funk. Both of these bands had more in common with the sounds of the late 50s and early 60s than the flower child psychedelia of Vanilla Fudge and Iron Butterfly. Dictator Ships pays homage to this primal sound on their debut EP, Your Favorites.
The production on Your Favorites is gritty and raw in the vein of early 60s garage rock. Much like those garage rock bands, Dictator Ship has a no frills attitude, but with just enough of a nod to the British Invasion that melody isn’t completely absent. “Good Thing Gone Bad” and “Just for Fun” are upbeat numbers with harmonies and flair reminiscent of The Dave Clark Five. If you don’t dance to these songs, you’re probably dead.
On the other side of the spectrum is “In the Heat of the Night”, “Gunner Man”, and “From the Womb to the Tomb”. “In the Heat of the Night” reminds me of Sir Lord Baltimore circa Kingdom Come (1970). Meanwhile, “Gunner Man” and “From the Womb to the Tomb” are pure Grand Funk worship. The vocals consist of throaty growls and fast, hard hitting drums which scream Don Brewer. Add in overly distorted riffs and you’ve got the classic Funk formula.
Ever wonder what speed metal would sound like in the 60s? Look no further than my favorite song, “Savage”. This appropriately titled track is so uptempo, it’d make Lemmy proud. About halfway, things slow down for a harmonizing break, only to kick back up again. There’s something about “Savage” that reminds me of early Cream. You know, before they started taking acid.
While I enjoy Your Favorites, I’m glad it was kept to an EP length’s worth of music. If it was any longer, it’d take away from its old time rock n’ roll charm. Dictator Ship lacks the songwriting depth of their heroes, but hey, not everyone can claim “Heartbreaker” as the first song they ever wrote (You hear that Farner? Showoff…). If they keep it at, I’m certain their ability to craft memorable melodies will match their off the charts musicianship and energy.
7 out of 10
Label: The Sign Records
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Grand Funk Railroad, Cream, Sir Lord Baltimore