Artist: The Neptune Power Federation
Album: Memoirs of a Rat Queen
Genre: Rock from outer Space
Country: Australia
Release date: 30th August 2019 (digital release)
Released via : Cruz Del Sur Music SRL
Cover artwork © Cruz Del Sur Music SRL
On the 2nd of March 2019 at 4:45pm I had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Neptune Power Federation came down to Hamburg, led by THE Imperial Priestess, who brought us her message. And damn, they even knew Motörhead. That was awesome. After this I was a believer. I believed and loved the music from outer space. It was the first time that their ship landed in Europe and it was a total success. Cruz Del Sur re-released the second and third album of the band in Europe now, and also give us the new album. So it’s your chance to start believing in the message of THE Imperial Priestess right now!
Let’s look at the facts now. Memoirs of a Rat Queen is the third full-length release of the band. It’s 37 minutes of music split into 8 songs. Powerful Hard Rock flavoured with some 60s space opera, a little glam, as well as a Punk attitude. The band is absolutely amazing in their live perfomances with a drummer who seems to be trying to smash through every single drum. It was so much energy in Hamburg and in my opinion they were able to put this energy on an album now.
We start with “Can You Dig”, the shortest song on the album. Bass and drums give us a stomping groove. It reminds me a little of T.Rex‘s “Get it on”, but on some alien steroids or something. Like this one, it’s a nice start. “Watch Your Masters Bleed” starts slow and epic and turns to a fast song with a powerful riff, driven by a nice hi-hat. The overall drum sound is direct and natural, right in the middle.
“Flying Incendiary Club For Subjugating Demons” (WTF?!?) starts with a great solo vocal performance by the Priestess. There is only one problem: either you love her or you hate her… the voice, the perfomance, the costumes. Me, I love it! A band with a concept that is going their way. That’s art.
The song “Rat Queen” has a prominent cowbell in it. Enough said. “Bound For Hell” starts with a quiet fuzzy guitar and the voice, to become another stomping mid-tempo song with a vocal climax on the way to the chorus, spoken parts and evil laughter. Guitar solo… check. Who needs more? Even got a dirty F-word in it.
“I’ll make a man out of you” also starts with a stomping groove with a cowbell and is somehow the song with the biggest pop-appeal, I think? There is a lick that sounds a little like “I Love Rock’n’Roll”. I think that could be a real great live song. “Pagan Inclinations” comes with some Hammond-sounds, multi-layered vocals and a fuzzy guitar solo. I love this sound. The last track “The Reaper Comes for Thee” starts with a spectacular single-note riff and a fast beat, a fight between the crystal clear silent voice of the Priestess in the chorus versus gang shouts from the band – then interrupted by her mad laughter and… a nice instrumetal part and a f’in children’s choir?? Absolutely genius in my opinion. You would never expect something like that at this moment.
All together I think the band was able to focus on their strengths. The powerful drumming is completed by a great production, supported by a good bass sound and the vocals are right in between, while the guitar gives us beautiful riffs and leads. Evil laughter, cowbells, a choir. I’m absolutely happy with this release. An album straight from outer space by The Neptune Power Federation! (They will be back in Europe in June 2020!)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
10/10
My favorites… if I need to choose, “Can You Dig” and “The Reaper Comes For Thee”.
As usual, we added the favorite track(s) to our Transcended Review Playlist.
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