The Lost Archives Surfacing the reviews of our forgotten youth
    Heaven's Metal #32
    Heaven's Metal #32/DigHayZoose
    DigHayZoose — Struggle Fish cover

    DigHayZoose

    Struggle Fish

    Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt

    Listen on Apple Music
    Label Brainstorm ArtistsHeaven's Metal #32November 1991
    funk metalalternative metal

    Yowza! They're here! Those Midwest Funk Rats called Dig Hay Zoose have released its psycho-metal to the sanctified masses. This stuff is great! I'd be glad to recommend this music to any modern day rocker. It's right there with the current blend of alterno-metal, the stuff college radio loves. "Zeptune" is the first tune that made me "hit the floor" when hearing the band's demo tape. It didn't strike me then that this was a funky version of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir". The chorus belts out a heart-felt message from one to another: "I forgive you for the things you've done." "Think About It" starts things off on this disc with romping bass and swirling melodies on top of chopping rhythms. "Psychedelic Mommy" comes in next with a very fast and snapping 'n' funky pace. "Waters Way" is very moody, like Jim Morrison swaying melodically into a room with Jane's Addiction rehearsing. "Slow Serious" has Phil the vocalist making musical sense of the lyrics with his voice control: wailing during the lines "Suddenly it was different...you begin to scream!" and carefully letting the words lift off his lips as he meanders "I'd never flown an airplane, high across the skies." The title track, "Struggle Fish", drives hard, whipping along at a headbangin' pace. "Dad Song" seems to release a lot of pain and anger. "Who am I now, Dad?" Could it be about guitarist Dave Anderson's struggle to please a father's expectations opposite to the lifestyle he chose? The band even tackles the standard ballad challenge, and does it well with the aptly-title "Love Song".

    More from DigHayZoose

    DigHayZoose — [demo]DigHayZoose — Ascension 7: Rocketship to HeavenDigHayZoose — Magenta Manta Love Tree

    Also in Heaven's Metal #32

    Various Artists — Rock Power Praise, Volume II: Christmas HymnsBloodgood — All Stand TogetherOrchestrator — [demo]Groans of Aniam — [demo]Holy Soldier — Last TrainSurrender — [demo]Ken Tamplin — Soul SurvivorSacred Warrior — ObsessionsOracle — [demo]Reality — [demo]