Liquor and Poker Music has a lot going for them right now. FIREBALL MINISTRY just released one of the most kickass albums of the year on their label, plus they’ve got some big time rock names like THE HELLACOPTERS and HANOI ROCKS. Now they have the US distribution rights to this here Toronto trio THE ILLUMINATI, a band that takes the essence of the biggest names of 70s rock, rolls it up in a ball, covers it in mud and rocks, throws it in your face and laughs at your sorry ass.

The first thing that must be commended here is the ultra-effective blend of vocals courtesy of Nick Sewell (bass/vox) and Les Godfrey (guitar/vox). This is the sort of chemistry that only comes from a decade of playing together which, coincidentally, they have. Add a solid backbone from drummer Jim Gering and the package is complete. Included in this 6 song package is some serious straight forward rawk (“Lemmy Know”), bluesy SKYNYRD-inspired action (“Salon Kitty”), twin guitar harmonies that would make THIN LIZZY proud (“Wingspan”), rockabilly on steroids (“On My Way Back Home… Again”), SABBATH-ish crunch (“All the Time in the World”), and a reminder of what it was like when ALICE COOPER was a band and not one guy (“Absinthe Makes the Heart”). In other words, you get a hell of a lot for a $3 EP. A bit of a warning though: do not expect a crisp and clear music experience here. The production on this EP sounds even worse then the aforementioned bands’ recordings 30 plus years ago. Then again, do these guys really care? I’d say not.

Since this EP was originally released in ’03, THE ILLUMINATI has released both a proper full-length debut (“On Borrowed Time”) and a live EP (“Cheap Powers”). After getting a taste of what they’re about with their self-titled EP, I’m ready to sink my teeth into the main course. So don’t be a cheap, lazy bastard. Get your hands on this EP already. It’ll be 3 Georges and 16 minutes well spent.

- Cardona

OFFICIAL SITE: www.theilluminati.net

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Salon Kitty

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