The Awful Truth
The Awful Truth
Reviewed by Spiny Norman
This is the band on Metal Blade Records you've been hearing about in past King's X interviews (Issue #25). Two of these three guys, Monty Colvin and Alan Doss, went on to form The Galactic Cowboys. Before that, The Awful Truth released a demo that Metal Blade Records heard and wanted to record, even though the band broke up. As might be expected, these Houston, Texas residents bear a strong resemblance to King's X. Sam Taylor's production hand can be heard through the big and beautiful harmonies, and deep, heavy low-end. These guys were part of the infamous Wilde Silas Musicworks company - that troupe of musicians that you can read about in this current issue's interview with King's X. Anyway, this album smokes! It's got tons of heavy and intricate playing that's as heavy and tight as Metallica or Megadeth. Songs like "Circle" change times faster than a watch repairman in Switzerland, switching from breakneck jamming to plodding crunch chords to a hooky groove - and back again. Their slower tunes, like "I Should Have Known" and "Mary", have a haunting feel that caters to the questions the songs pose to the listeners. "Mary" takes a swipe at the false worship of Mary. "Can you hear me Mary, mother of God?/ Can you understand these words?/ It's so hard for me to figure why/ I should ask these things of you...Mary, can you hear me when I pray?...is there power in your name?" "Ghost Of Heaven" and "No Good Reason" have these huge, deep grooves that are as infectious as any ole R&B band from Motown. "Ghost Of Heaven" has some upfront lyrics for those willing to hear (there is no lyric sheet provided): "...let me hear Your voice today/ Ghost of Heaven, hear my plea/ Holy Voice, won't You speak to me?" "Higher" is another tune that speaks to a higher level than the boy/girl relationships or partying. They seem to communicate the despair of fallen man. "Your eyes stare back down at me/ how can a man made of dust become clean? Higher, higher...never closer...just can't reach You!" Like King's X, this is a musician's band. Some of the riffs played are so well performed and creative that they'll tend to go over the head of many.