Killing Floor in Bloomington, MN

The sheer toughness -- and overall derivative -- nature of
Killing Floor
's debut album, issued six months after
Led Zeppelin
's debut in 1969 on the
Spark
label, is a wondrous contrast to the overly slick treatment American
blues
were given by British artists. All of these tunes, with the exception of one, are revamped versions of songs from the
canon with different words. The lone "cover" in the set was written by
Willie Dixon
titled
"Woman You Need Love,"
the tune
Zep
ripped for
"Whole Lotta Love."
Despite the fact that this set was issued before by
Repertoire
, the
Akarma
version is definitive in that it features the original cover artwork in a heavy cardboard gatefold sleeve, and killer sound. This is a raw, immediate, overdriven,
psychedelic
record that offers an interesting historical counterpoint to the immediate impact of
Page and Plant
and Co., but it also offers a great contrast to the recent 1990s versions of American groups trying to rock up the
in like style:
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
immediately comes to mind. They also provide a heavier, less reverent, and altogether heavier update of the Yardbirds rave-up sound. ~ Thom Jurek