Bands like THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION, THE WHITE STRIPES and THE STILLETTOS have made it a point that rock music doesn't need bass (yes, it's ironic that THE WHITE STRIPES' biggest hit has a bass hook, but that's another discussion). Luckily there have also been bands as diverse as SONIC VIOLENCE, WARTIME and MORPHINE that prove the opposite; with the right amount of low-end what do you need guitars for?

The newest band to prove the latter are BIG BUSINESS, a duo consisting of Jared Warren (KARP) on bass and Coady Willis (MURDER CITY DEVILS) on drums. "Head For The Shallow" is their first release and it contains eight brutal tracks that are equal parts punk, noise, metal, classic hard rock and more noise. There's some snippets of guitar but they're just icings on the cake. And a very, thick greasy cake it is, combining manic drumming, clean-yet-aggressive vocals and of course those huge, fat, snoring bass riffs. It won't win 'em any awards for subtlety but boy, do I enjoy this record!! Punk? Stoner? Sludge? Heavy Metal? BIG BUSINESS is none of these yet all of these at the same time.

"Head For The Shallow" is proof that you don't need walls of distortion or one of those silly seventh strings on your guitar to make genuinely heavy or loud music. All you need is your basic rhythm section and an attitude!

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/bigbigbusiness

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