Swervedriver - Raise

Swervedriver released their debut in 1991. Designed to be played LOUD, it's an absolute guitarfest, gauzy riffs bouncing off each other right from the opener Sci Flyer.  Adam Franklin's vocals are a little muddy and muttered which takes a bit of getting used to, but just succumb to those guitars.

It really is a driving album.  Riff after riff follows, with the heavy rush of Pile Up spelling that out, Franklin singing “let's just drive”, quickly followed up by the pounding Son of Mustang Ford.  These are hard-rocking songs, with the latter's riff being particularly addictive.  

After this the album slows a little, which actually suits them.  Deep Seat takes it's time to build up to its hard-rocking, meaty riff.  The tracks are less traditional verse/chorus tunes but more vehicles for their grungy guitar work on the likes of Rave Down and Sunset.

The most epic track is the penultimate one, Sandblasted.  With a grinding, Pete Townshend-esque central riff, they slow the pace down at the key moments on this track which makes for a joyous moment.

The album hits you right in the gut rather than the head.  Guitars you can feel.