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Tough As Nails - Bikers' Delight

Golovanov Alexey | Limassol, Cyprus | 01/07/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now, that's a real killer! That's the only real "Shiver" from San Francisco - not a pale anemic album by "Coldplay" and not shy Swiss proto-prog from 1969.

"Shiver" was started by Texan Don Peck (drums), who was wise enough to move to San Francisco (I strongly suspect that Texas wasn't the right place for that kind of music at the time) and fortified himself with Neil Peron on bass and Frank Twist (guitar, vocals). "Shiver" is even rumoured to have Terry "Hook" Seluga as a frontman (so nicknamed for having a hook for a hand - today's "doomers" and "stoners" couldn't even dream about!)

"Shiver" blossomed for a while in a dreamland of peace, love and flower power - although these dropouts of the eternal (but short-lived) summer of love were not trading in love or peace - that was balls-crashing psychedelic hard-rock - heavy, deadly, straight and convincing. "Blue Cheer" (Vincebus Eruptumnext to "Shiver" sounds weaker and more polished, "Shiver" is more spontaneous and ascetic, closer to South African "Suck" (Time to Suck or fellow "The Flow" (Greatest Hits)One can easily place within the same ranks more distinguished "Mountain", or almost forgotten "Peacepipe" and/or "Truth And Janey" (No Rest for the Wicked.

The songs - "Bone Shaker", "Tough As Nails" speak for themselves, but there is no lack of real musicianship (listen to 14-minutes "Alpha Man" for the starters - although it reminds somehow "Hey Joe").

Beware of the sound: the album is a kind of live studio recording - without overdubbing, mixing, and feedling with technical gimmicks - 2-track open reel tape recorder was used, so it might be not up to the standards. But give it a try - I am quite happy with it. It is for real"