Rock N Roll Swordfight

In an interview with a glam rock fanzine, Gyasi Heus once said, "Im all for acknowledging my influences. If you cant hide it, hang bells on it." Its a good thing he feels this way, because Gyasi, the band Heus leads, sound as if they would be utterly lost if they didnt have the glory days of T. Rex, Mud, and Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie to mine for inspiration. That said, if Gyasi built their style from the influences of other artists, they execute it brilliantly, and the hard guitar crunch, thundering rhythms, and swaggering vocal wailing are delivered with too much sweat, fire, and sincere passion not to bring a smile to anyone who remembers the era of glitter and platform boots (or wishes theyd been around in 1972). 2024s Rock n Roll Swordfight is a live album stitched together from three concerts in 2023 (including the bands appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival), and Gyasi deliver a level of arena-level bombast thats letter perfect and all the more enjoyable for its shamelessness. Gyasi are very clearly beholden to an era that was over before they were born, but this doesnt sound like nostalgia or revivalism -- Gyasi Heus clearly found the Rosetta Stone that explained everything to him when he found a copy of Electric Warrior, and he performs this music with the zeal of a true believer. When Gyasi turn up the amps and dial in the louche qualities in Heus voice on "Baby Blue," "Cheap High," "Kiss Kiss," and "All Messed Up," its all but impossible not to be swept up in their evocation of glams salad days, and if you like your rock big, bold, and flashy, Rock n Roll Swordfight will introduce you to your new favorite band. Dont forget your eye liner! ~ Mark Deming