Lonely Kamel – Shit City

@louelladeville_ @planetmosh review of Shit City by @LonelyKamelBand released via @NapalmRecords

Lonely Kamel a four-piece heavy blues, hard rock & stoner rock band from Oslo in Norway released their fourth album ‘Shit City’ via Napalm records last month. They are currently on the ‘Shit City’ tour with a few dates left in the UK. If you’re quick you can catch them in one of the cities (which may, or may not, be shit based on personal opinion) that are Milton Keynes, Glasgow, Birmingham or London this week.

I picked up lot’s of different elements in this album. Although they describe themselves as a stoner band I heard flavours of Motorhead, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Testament, The Doors, The Foo Fighters and Guy Mitchell all blended into one tasty Kamel stew! Opener Shit City with it’s Motorhead riffage meets Bon Scott style singing. City Kids in Sin City? White Lines with much more of a stoner rock vibe than the previous song, a bit Monster Magnet-ish. Is It Over starts very bluesy then heads into something moor Doors-y. I’m thinking Guy Mitchell’s Singing the Blues meets L. A. Woman. I Feel Sick starting with screaming riffage reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix.

Seal the Permimeter with a heavy bass line had more great riffs, Freezing elements of Testament say Electric Crown. BFD stands for Big Fat Dolly, an Atomic Rooster meets The Doors style number Break Through meets Break on Through? I did ask if it was about an oversized blow up doll (in my interview which accompanies this review) but I didn’t manage to break through and get a definitive ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer! Falling Down has some Doors Riders on the Storm style keyboards thrown in. Last but not least is a cover of Necromandus’ song Nightjar which starts off with some David Bowie’s The Jean Genie riffage before blending into an interesting hybrid of The Foo Figthers and Black Sabbath.

I haven’t heard any of their earlier stuff so I can’t make any comment as to how the band have, or haven’t, evolved musically but I really enjoyed this album. With all it’s different elements, it held my attention from start to finish. Highlight track has got to be the title track Shit City.

Track List:  

1. Shit City
2. White Lines
3. Is It Over?
4. I Feel Sick
5. Seal The Perimeter
6. Freezing
7. BFD
8. Falling Down
9. Nightjar (Necromandus Cover)

 Band Members: 

Thomas Brenna – vocals & guitar
Lukas Paulsen – guitar & backing vocals
Stian Helle – bass
Espen Nesset – drums

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lonelykamel

Interview with Lukas Paulsen: http://planetmosh.com/lukas-paulsen-lonely-kamel-interview-september-2014/