Do It Yourself spirit without any compromises - A review of Electric Eel Shock's Sweet Generation

Electric Eel Shock is a Japanese trio that has been around for more than two and a half decades now. The band plays an energetic mixture of garage rock, hard rock, rock 'n' roll and heavy metal in this exact order. The band had gained some international acclaim since the group had toured the United States of America as early as 1999. The band's single ''Scream for Me'' was my first contact with the band back in 2005 since the song was released on the compilation of the German Hard Rock magazine. The band has always been known for its unusual Do It Yourself approach with crowdfunding projects going back to as early as 2004. The band had regularly released new material in the first decade and a half of its career. Things got more quite then before the band came back with its first release in eight years entitled Sweet Generation.

Two things become obvious while listening to this album including nine tracks for a running time of roughly twenty-seven minutes. First of all, the band still plays the aforementioned genres but has added a raw punk note to the album that becomes obvious in songs such as the energetic, fast and raw album closer ''Middle Age's Wild Wild''. Secondly, the band's Do It Yourself Approach shines through even more than before in the production. The record sounds as if it had been recorded in the late seventies as we can hear heavily distorted guitar sounds that are a little bit too dominant in the production, particularly vivid drum play, energetic bass guitar sounds that however take some time to shine through in the chaotic production and raw melodic lead vocals supported by enthusiastic backing vocals. Highlights include the danceable and humorous hard rock anthem ''My Favorite No.9'', the down-tuned ''Ninja Slayer'' that sounds as if it had been recorded during a jam session in a garage in the late seventies as well as the fast and hectic ''Soudesune'' that exclusively features Japanese lyrics for a change.

If you like self-made hard rock music in the spirit of the late seventies, Electric Eel Shock's Sweet Generation should entertain you from start to finish. Let's hope this charismatic band resumes frequent activities as in the first fifteen years of its career. If you want to give an older record a chance, let me recommend you the diversified, energetic and entertaining Beat Me.

Final rating: 70%