This the last SAHB album released back in ’78. Alex would return with the New Band, but it was over for SAHB after this release. The band would reform in the early toonies with Max Maxwell on vocals, and they released a live album and DVD called Zalvation with some reworking of old SAHB classics, which was killer but no new material appeared. Because of internal disputes and health issues, none of this album was ever played live.
Side 1 is The Rock Drill Suite split up into five parts and pieces. Of this, namely Dolphins is up there with the best material the band ever did. A superb riff and brooding groove with some of the best lyrics Harvey ever penned – “Where were you little man when I laid down the foundations of your universe” is one I really love. Rock & Rool is a straight up rocker with a great Zal riff. Who Murdered Sex, with its old school rock n roll riff and groove, is really cool. Water Beastie, which has a great reggae groove and repeats over, is a really odd piece. The single, Mrs Blackhouse, closes out the album, and ode to self appointed protector to the people, who had more things banned due to moral objections than any government ever did.
I always find this a sad ending to what was a great band, and I miss them greatly.
8/10 from The Grooveman.
