GOZU | Go nine songs deep into Gozu's new The Fury of a Patient Man — from the stoner chug of opener "Bald Bull" to the buzzing boogie of "Salty Thumb" to the upright guitar crunch of "Disco Related Injury" — and there's barely any room to breathe. Then, in comes the mountainous riff orgy of closing track "The Ceaseless Thunder of Surf," which clocks in at nearly 24 minutes and might be the most epic 20-plus-minute metal journey since Manowar dropped "Achilles, Agony and Ecstasy in Eight Parts" back in 1992.
The Fury of a Patient Man, the veteran Boston rock quartet's April 23 record off Small Stone Recordings, is an intense affair, and a follow-up to 2010's acclaimed Locust Season, but even more polished and succinct. "Salty Thumb" is the odd standout, a cruising, upbeat number that recalls Urge Overkill and Queens of the Stone Age (a comparison Gozu get often). It was added to regular rotation on WFNX the second we all heard it — melodic music in which to get blazed.
"[Singer] Marc Gaffney and I grew up listening to and playing in soul bands," says guitarist Douglas Allan Sherman. "So we definitely want to incorporate soul and melody with heavier riff rock. We're thrown into the stoner-rock thing, which is awesome because the support from the bands and media is perpetual. But I'd like to think of us as 'riff soul.' Stoner rock with an organic swag." :: Radio, 381 Somerville Avenue, Somerville :: May 3-4 :: 8:30 pm :: 21+ :: 617.764.0005 or radiobarunion.com
JESSE DEE:: It's been nearly five years since Boston's soul Renaissance man Jesse Dee dropped debut record Bittersweet Batch, establishing a permanent place in the local stage circuit. Now, on new record On My Mind/In My Heart (which was born initially as a live set at the Regattabar in 2011 before going into the studio for some grade-A polish), Dee brings a modern shine to a timeless sound. :: March 9 :: Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston :: 9 pm :: $15 :: 617.779.0140 or ticketmaster.com
WALTER SICKERT & THE ARMY OF BROKEN TOYS:: Late last year, Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys established a goal of $6600 for new record Soft Time Traveler. Five days before Christmas, the goal was reached, and at press time, the self-described steam-crunk collective had raised nearly three times that, with 248 backers. That's nearly enough to fill Brighton Music Hall. But we're not sweating it; support from the Field Effect, Ruby Rose Fox, and the Rationales is enough to make this one monster Boston-soundtracked Saturday-night throwdown. :: March 23 :: Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston :: 9 pm :: $14 :: 617.779.0140 or ticketmaster.com
WESTLAND:: Last month when pop-rock dudes Westland glammed up the Middle East for their Intimacy Without Intimacy record release party, it was such an emo-licious affair the band busted out a damn-near flawless cover of Taking Back Sunday's "Makedamnsure." All that was missing were a gaggle of over-make-up'd teenagers; now said kids get a chance to party with one of Massachusetts most melodic acts in this all-ages matinee. Westland's "Steady Now" and "Jack & Coke" are epic, ambitious jams in the tired age of lazy rock. :: March 24 :: The Middle East, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge :: 1 pm :: $12 :: ticketweb.com
