Maybe the best part about writing for a music website is that I have access to music and bands that I wouldn’t normally have had access to if I didn’t decide to volunteer my time to do this. I also enjoy my small part in the massive world that is heavy metal music as well, but finding a band that is way below the radar and trying to help bring them some exposure is what is really enjoyable about this gig. With that I bring you Throw The Goat. A four piece Punk Rock / Stoner Band from the small California town of Idyllwild here in the USA. Throw The Goat has released their DIY debut album Black Mountain and as far as I am concerned has put out one of the most intriguing albums so far this year, and that is saying something because this has been a stellar year in heavy metal music.
The combination of the Punk Rock aspect of the music and the mix of Stoner grooves give Throw The Goat a sound that I haven’t heard in years. It is a refreshing take on a hybrid of metal and punk that hasn’t been around since the glory days of The Dictators. The opening track 'Southeast Bound' is an immediate throwback to the surf punk sound of the late 70’s and the aggression and power of Mike Schnalzer's voice gives this song a personality and feel that whets the appetite just enough that you are really looking forward to the tracks that follow on this superb debut album. The band’s ability to funnel their aggression so well into each and every song allows for this album’s 40 minutes to speed by until you are playing it over and over again and finding new little bits of the music each and every playback.
Luckily for us the band also has a sense of humor and do not take every song seriously. With songs like 'Beef' and 'Havin’ A Beer' the band really does veer into the territory once done so well by The Dictators. But don’t let the jocularity mislead you this is a seriously hard, fast paced, scorcher of an album that will glue itself to your memory and have you pounding away at the air as you listen to it. Stand out songs 'Excuses', and 'Too Late' shows off the impressive songwriting skill of a band that is playing beyond their years. Normally it would take a band an album or two to get this kind of cohesiveness and self-awareness, but Throw The Goat have achieved it on their debut album.
Something else that should be mentioned is that they perform a cover of the song 'Free Your Mind', which was made famous by the lovely divas in the band En Vogue. What some may consider a strange choice as well as addition to the album this cover is done extremely well and reminded me that when I first heard this song way back in 1992 that there was a power and attitude to it that it would have made a good metal or even crossover song at that time. Not to sound arrogant but I was right because Throw The Goat does a great job of translating this R&B hit into something that will make you “throw the goat” high into the air and pound along with them.
Writer’s note: The Urban Dictionary defines throwing the goat as: extend [your hand] above your head, with the index and pinky fingers pointing upward and the other fingers and thumb pointing away from you, and then waving your hand forward and back, forward and back, over and over again in a rapid, fluid motion. "Throwing the goat" originated at early heavy metal rock concerts, and originally symbolize the horns of The Goat, i.e. the Devil or Satan.
Until Later, Peace!
