Buffalo Crows – “Trog” [Song Review]

Buffalo Crows come from a land down under. Ha…ha…get it? No? OK, this Aussie band describes the 9 tracks on their new album, Bovonic Empire as “metal, heavy, southern rock, psych, and street punk wrapped in rampaging guitars, searing harmonica and bovine goodness.” OK… Checking out the whole album, I can see that but I’m going to write about the track called “Trog” because it just sounds cool-as-fuck and it was described as “A homage to Captain Beefheart and the 70’s B movie called Trog.” I have to see this movie now….

So I’ve listened to some Captain Beefheart in my lifetime, more specifically, Trout Mask Replica, so I was actually hoping it would be really out there just like Captain Beefheart. It’s not that I disagree with Buffalo Crows, I was just hoping it would be a little more nutty as far as the instrumentation. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very good song and in sum, it rocks.

The rhythm has this start/stop feel to it and there are some tasty leads sprinkled throughout with some spastic soloing to accompany them. I also really dug the use of the harmonica, it really adds that extra flavor to the mood. The vocal style reminds me a bit of Tom Waits and even though I’m not a fan of his, it works for the song. “Trog” concludes with a boogie rhythm and another spazzy solo. Buffalo Crows making “Trog” the leadoff track was a wise choice because I wouldn’t just stop there, I’d check out the whole album.

Run Time: 5:44
Release Date: August 20, 2016

Check out the song “Trog”