The Heavy - The House That Dirt Built

The Heavy sound like they’re aiming at providing a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack all by themselves.

With a quote like “If you value your sanity don't go in the house” to open up the album, leading into the riff-heavy fun-fest Oh No Not You Again, The Heavy are intent on playing good time garage rock mixed with the Munsters and some James Brown funk – the kind of music that Lenny Kravitz wishes he still made. Mixed by Jim Abiss (famed for work with Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian), there is a deft touch on the thickly great riffs and thickly laid-on funk.

There is no doubt that they haven’t managed to make a whole album of songs as great as that opener, but they came damned close – and, in fact set their own standard ridiculously high.

The House That Dirt Built is atmospherically served up with the kind of delicious sludge that the Mooney Suzuki make, but with some great songs. And, just when you thought, ten songs in, that you have the measure of this band, they throw in a rather decent love song to finish the album.

Rating 8/10
Mike Rea