The normal way this music review malarkey works is that a band or label looking to promote a forthcoming release will send previews to assorted magazines and sites, confident in the strength of their product garnering positive write ups that will encourage sales. Well, that’s how it works in the underground that Ave Noctum haunts, and stories of bribes and payola for puff pieces are very much the preserve of the mainstream. However, sometimes an album comes along that a reviewer has purchased out of their own pocket (yes, that’s what we do folks) that just demands attention, and ‘Folklore, Myths and Legends of The Brothers Keg’, or simply ‘Folklore…’ as I shall henceforth call it to save wear and tear on my ageing fingers, is one such album.

Before hitting the review, a wee bit of history. My first, and so far only live experience of the band was Bloodstock 2019 when they had an afternoon slot in the VIP tent. Not fancying any of the clashing arena acts, and intent on imbibing some of the scrumpy on offer for those with deeper pockets, I settled down to give them a try, and by crikey, was I ever impressed by exactly how drum tight this three piece were; even with just an early take on what was to come, after a chat to the band I made a mental note to keep up with how they went. A year and a bit later, and care of that stalwart bastion of the musical underdog APF records, ‘Folklore…’ was announced, and the pre-order package swiftly pounced on by yours truly.

From the off ‘Legends…’ is a bold venture, the band choosing to present their debut album as a narrative story of the legendary Brothers Keg as they battle unspeakable evils over aeons of time in an arc of songs that encompass the muscular pomp of Robert E. Howard, the sanity wrenching evils of HP Lovecraft, and the time spanning odysseys of Michael Moorcock, all set to a sound track of first rate Psyche and Stoner, something you would only expect for a band composed of three veterans of that scene. ‘Moorsmen’ commences with an opening narrative akin to the exposition of so many classic sword and sorcery movies, merging into a sea of riffs, looping beats, and lyrics delivered like a battle cry. Via a short narrative intermission, the lead pre-release ‘No Earthly Form’ follows, mixing thunderous guitar blasts with trippy plucked notes that would sound equally at home being teased from the strings of a sitar as from an amped up Gibson, the singing style remaining blissed out and mellow even through the ebb and flow of the instruments, Hammond organ swirls being added to the mix that then fade into ‘The Ice Melteth’ a track that is equal parts early Pink Floyd introspection and an unused Queen instrumental for Flash Gordon flying to the ice moon of Frigia. This gentle idyll is soon interrupted by a war scream ‘Introducing The Brothers Keg’ and their credo, all before the near thirteen minute saga of ‘Brahman’ that over its Tolkienesque length meanders from the psychedelic, through crushing doom, and Prog splendour, before ‘The Army of the Thirsty Blade’ approaches the battlements of ‘Castle Keg’ and slaughter commences in a clash of thundering drums, blasting bass, and down-tuned riffage.

‘Folklore…’ is as fine a debut album I’ve heard in many a year, and as well as a testament to the ability of the band, it is a tribute to the willingness of an underground label such as APF Records to turn their fan credentials into positive support for the scene. In these lean times between gigs and tours, please let me encourage you to PURCHASE this music, and when normality returns, get to the shows, buy the merch, and keep the underground alive.

(9/10 Spenny)

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https://thebrotherskeg.bandcamp.com/album/folklore-myths-and-legends-of-the-brothers-keg-2