| Member Since | 9/20/2006 | | Band Members | Jamie Black - Guitar, Vocals
Tony Newman - Vibes, Drums
Reid Hudson - Bass, Vocals | | Influences | May Blitz (alongside Rory Gallagher's Taste) were among
the first of the newly formed hard rock power trios to take up the challenge of
Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience; that is, making the biggest possible
noise with the smallest available lineup, but never losing sight of melody and
finesse while they did so. Certainly anyone catching their early live show was
guaranteed to leave with their ears ringing but their brainbox humming, and the
band's debut album was a seamless reiteration of their in-concert impact, all
the way down to the extended riffing and miniature solos. May Blitz's strongest
point, in terms of audience recognition, was drummer Tony Newman, and fans of
the jazz-inflected style that he injected into the Jeff Beck Group
certainly won't be disappointed by what they find here -- indeed, with guitarist
James Black beside him, it's not difficult to compare May Blitz to the Beck
band's Beck-Ola, and find the better-known disc come up wanting every
time. The epic "Smoking the Day Away" kicks things off in dynamic form, laying
down the grinding, almost proto-metallic assault that was May Blitz's raison
d'etre; later in the set, "Dreaming," "Virgin Waters," and "Squeet" all howl
with a vengeance that might sound a little old-fashioned today, but was
breathtakingly fresh at the time. Even better is "Fire Queen," which essentially
blueprints the best parts of every metal act from Judas Priest to the Cult,
except it doesn't hang around long enough to spoil the effect. Rather like May
Blitz themselves, in fact.
The second and final May Blitz album basically picked up where its predecessor
left off, with the thunderous and foreboding "For Mad Men Only," and then
bludgeoned on from there. Except, where May Blitz concentrated on weight, 2nd
of May is more interested in mood and even mirth -- "25th of December 1969"
would be almost jovial, if the lyrics weren't so harsh, while the balladic "Just
Thinking" closes the album with the sweetest of whispers. It's a tighter disc
than its predecessor. Just two of the eight songs really top five minutes, as
the band learned how to cram maximum impact into minimal space, and layered the
virtuosity on from there. The helter-skelter blur of "Eight Mad Grim Nits" is as
electrifying a guitar workout as you're likely to hear, with the axe panning
wildly while the rhythm section soars like a steeplechase behind it; while "High
Beech" takes the opposite tack entirely, a psychedelic dream that builds so
gently that the effect is almost boleric. "Honey Coloured Time," too, has a
gentle mood that puts one in mind of labelmates Black Sabbath's "Planet
Caravan," as performed by the Full House era Fairport Convention. And, while a
lengthy Tony Newman drum solo doesn't really repay repeat listens (well, not
unless you like drum solos), still 2nd of May remains one of those albums that
you will find yourself returning to again and again, while wishing May Blitz had
held on long enough to cut a follow-up.
~Dave Thompson, All Music Guide | | Record Label | Unsigned |
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