Budos Band - Budos VII

A Closer Listen

Staten Island nonet Budos Band return for their mighty seventh offering, on which they continue to fine-tune their fusion of funk, rock and afro-beat.  While the album continues to admire 70s hard rock, as evident in its Uriah Heap-infused art and proto-metal dabblings, VII is possibly the most “metal” Budos Band record yet, even more so than 2019’s V.

The band demonstrates the shift early on “Overlander,” whose punchy power chord opening provides a respectful dose of Black Sabbath. The track develops wonderfully, incorporating the beautiful brass sections, strong melodies and keen musicianship for which the band has become known.  However, the guitars have a distinctly lo-fi fizzy tone. Whilst most likely an aesthetic choice in line with their influences, sometimes the guitars feel more sneering than biting, and lack oomph. It would be interesting to hear the band experiment with heavier tones, pushing the metal influence even further.

Still, this is not enough to dilute the overall mix of the album, which perfectly balances Budos Band’s many influences. “Kudzu Vine” and “Curse of the Ivory Fang” are groove-centred, the latter especially boasting a funky acumen. The former also recalls the band’s early psychedelic sound, with Deller’s organ leading the charge. Other songs, such as “Sharky’s Delight,” feel more proggy and thematic, and feature some of the album’s best melodies. The guitars are mixed much stronger here, and Brenneck’s harp adds further texture to the already vibrant composition. 

Budos Band pushes their fusion of influences even further with “Behind the Black Curtain,” whose opening dabbles in space rock. As the track progresses, it incorporates a sinister onset of sounds: a slow and crawling guitar riff surrounded by foreboding horns and melodies. Songs such as this and “Lair Of 1,000 Serpents” showcase Budos Band at their most cinematic, which the 70s hard rock emphasis has done well to elevate.

VII effortlessly mixes a myriad of influences, from Mulatu Astatke to Ennio Morricone. It does so while exploring more uncharted territory for Budos Band, seamlessly incorporating newer sounds into their ever-expanding synthesis of musical disciplines. (Luke Furlonger-Copeland)