Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Nirav’s last post on MotherJane got me thinking about old rock, and not this 80’s/90’s hard rock metal stuff. More like the metal from 70’s. Metal seems to have taken almost a 180 over the past few decades, but there are still bands out there trying to keep the sound alive. There’s a trio local to the Philly area (Nazareth, PA to be exact) doing just that.

I can’t tell if Pearls and Brass is still around since there isn’t much information on the web and their website seems to down. Despite this, the wikipedia page seems to imply they’ve received significant media attention. I do live in a bubble… but I can’t say I’ve heard about these guys from anyone other than my old band mate who knows of more bands than anyone else I’ve ever met. But if you’re into bands like Black Sabbath and Rainbow and you’re itching for something new along those lines, do what you can to get your hands on The Indian Tower (2006). The most distinct quality of this band is the “thickness” of the guitars. Usually the bass guitar follows the guitar, but in this case I’m all for it because it’s all about the sound. A guitar just by itself can’t pull it off. And actually even the drums keep rather well syncopated as well. It’s almost as if they could all somehow be played by just one person at the same time. Of course they break this from time to time, but it’s a prominent theme. All in all, the big emphasis of this band is the rhythm.

Yes this is metal, but metal didn’t always mean screaming at the top of your lungs. Pearls and Brass hasn’t forgotten that either. I can’t quite place the singer’s voice. It’s unique to a point, but it definitely reminds me of someone… perhaps some of you out there with more familiarity of 70’s metal can help me out. His voice is somewhat sparsely scattered across the album, which really brings out the guitars. I can’t say I ever got the chance to see these guys live, but if they’re still around perhaps that can change in the not so distant future. Honestly, I can’t rank these guys up there with some of the amazing finds we’ve come across recently (mostly because I’m so fond of newer heavy metal and progressive rock), but it’s great to have some music in your arsenal that mixes things up and still meets the Obnoxious Listener’s requirements.