Whether it was due to poor timing, an oversaturation of bluesy two pieces, or the abrasive heaviness of their live show, The Fumes haven’t managed to reclaim the levels of popularity enjoyed by their 2006 debut, Guns Of Gold. However, this doesn’t seem to be a huge problem for frontman Steve Merry and his new look three-piece band.
Merry’s never been overly comfortable onstage, and lately he’s taken to sitting down and sharing barely audible in-jokes with his band mates. But he’s always been a talented songwriter. Sometimes this has been concealed by his fiercely distorted dobro playing, but it’s a defining feature of the band’s first two albums. In this respect, Bloodless is no different
However, first track Silverstar is completely new territory for The Fumes. With a simple rock’n’roll beat, a pretty melody and a ripping chorus, it gets things off to a cracking start. A number of songs follow suit. The addition of bass guitar allows for more creative guitar parts, letting Merry focus on structure and melody rather than just playing fucking hard and fast the whole time. Jazz is a testament to this, while Eat The Sucker and Ride is straight down the line rock’n’roll.
Over The River contains aninsane bluesy breakdown that rips right through the guts; Lonely As You Are, Be A Friend and Annihilation are sombre but mellifluous affairs. Merry has always known how to pen a good ballad, and these songs prove he hasn’t lost the knack.
The Fumes might’ve softened up a little bit, but it’s lovely to hear from them again. And despite its title, Bloodless still has plenty of guts.
BY HANK MARDOUKAS
