FOXY SHAZAM – The Church Of Rock And Roll (2012)

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The Cincinnati-based sextext FOZY SHAZAM, comprised of Nally (vocals), Loren Turner (guitar), Daisy (bass), Sky White (piano), Aaron McVeigh (drums) and Alex Nauth (horns), released its fourth album “The Church Of Rock and Roll”, their 2nd in a major label.

Who are these borderline-animalistic guys who are lauded for their onstage presence and personas, antics and acrobatics?
There’s something both politically incorrect and blasphemously charming about a band whose frontman holds an uncanny resemblance to V from ‘V for Vendetta’ with its pencil-thin moustache, chews a lit cigarette on stage, whose album art features the same band member staring into a projected crucifix, and whose mohawked keyboard player quite literally jumps on his musical instrument while playing it.
Well, Foxy Shazam are one of the newest sensations of retro-rock, playing truly seventies infused glam-rock at its finest.

Put the very early Queen, the glitter of New York Dolls and some Led Zeppelin riffs together, and you have what “The Church Of Rock and Roll” is all about.
On this extravagant homage to the holy temple of classic rock, the band blends vintage hard rockers with kistch pop melodies accentuated by singer Eric Nally Freddie Mercury-esque vocal attack.
The record starts right off the bat with the strong guitar riffs and a loud vocals of “Welcome To The Church of Rock and Roll”, one of the most invigorating tracks on the record.
That lofty introduction promises enough to get anyone’s interest piqued, but what stands out most is that Nally wants to prove to listeners his band is different from the flock.
And different they are, as is evidenced by the first single “I Like It”. The rhythm is jaunty, leaning heavily on a thick guitar part and Nally’s ever-changing vocal stylings. The gospel choir is present again, but this church holds no reservations – “That’s the biggest black ass I’ve ever seen / And I like it a lot,” goes the chorus. The guitar solo shows off the clout and swagger this band always brings to the table, and it leads into a back-to-back of two of the catchiest tracks on the record.

Fast-paced, conducive to toe-tapping, and complete with body-gyrating piano, “Holy Touch” sounds like it belongs on the ’80’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off soundtrack.
Next, “Last Chance At Love” is just one of those songs that is almost illegally catchy. It has tons of ’80s comerciality all over, and here finally becomes obvious that Justin Hawkins, lead singer of The Darkness, produced this record. This song is what we all expected from this album; it hits hard, the guitar licks are fresh, and Nally climbs the rafters in the chorus.
On the blisteringly paced “Wasted Feelings” the guitars are accompanied by… a rockin’ trumpet. Nally holds nothing back and the instrumentation is full on fire, inspired by the theatrical antics of Meat Loaf and The Who mixed with Queen’s kistch. The track puts all of these things together, sounding like a ‘70s rock song written with the intention of being played during a prom night in the ‘80s. And it still would feel right on the radio in 2012.
Slower songs like “Forever Together” and “Streets” are just as fun as the heavier anthems, bringing catchy sing-along partss, soulful key taps, and vocal hums into a single dazzling entity.
The closing “Freedom” is built like a classic, anthemic rock-and-roll ballad, and Nally’s vocals adjust between low and high ranges to fit it nicely.

Utilizing unusual vocals arrangements for the actual musical scene, squealing electric guitars and retro sing-along choruses, this band and album does successfully what The Darkness attempted: bring back old-school rock and roll in all of its theatrical glory.
Foxy Shazam proved on “The Church of Rock and Roll” that it is possible – for a band with mainstream intentions – to produce tunes with the same steam that the magical 1970s possessed.
I encourage all fans of classic, retro Rock And Roll to give the entire album a listen, it’s fun, cool and refreshing.

01 – Welcome To The Church Of Rock And Roll
02 – I Like It
03 – Holy Touch
04 – Last Chance At Love
05 – Forever Together
06 – (It’s) Too Late Baby
07 – I Wanna Be Yours
08 – Wasted Feelings
09 – The Temple
10 – The Streets
11 – Freedom

Eric Nally – Vocals
Loren Turner – GuitarA
Sky White – Keyboards
Daisy – Bass
Alex Nauth – Horns
Aaron McVeigh – Drums

BUY IT :
www.amazon.com/Church-Rock-Roll/dp/B006K66G2O