In an interview with a glam rock fanzine,
Gyasi Heus
once said, "I'm all for acknowledging my influences. If you can't hide it, hang bells on it." It's a good thing he feels this way, because
Gyasi
, the band
Heus
leads, sound as if they would be utterly lost if they didn't have the glory days of
T. Rex
,
Mud
, and
Ziggy Stardust
-era
David Bowie
to mine for inspiration. That said, if
built their style from the influences of other artists, they execute it brilliantly, and the hard guitar crunch, thundering rhythms, and swaggering vocal wailing are delivered with too much sweat, fire, and sincere passion not to bring a smile to anyone who remembers the era of glitter and platform boots (or wishes they'd been around in 1972). 2024's
Rock 'n' Roll Swordfight
is a live album stitched together from three concerts in 2023 (including the band's appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival), and
deliver a level of arena-level bombast that's letter perfect and all the more enjoyable for its shamelessness.
are very clearly beholden to an era that was over before they were born, but this doesn't sound like nostalgia or revivalism --
clearly found the Rosetta Stone that explained everything to him when he found a copy of
Electric Warrior
, and he performs this music with the zeal of a true believer. When
turn up the amps and dial in the louche qualities in
' voice on "Baby Blue," "Cheap High," "Kiss Kiss," and "All Messed Up," it's all but impossible not to be swept up in their evocation of glam's salad days, and if you like your rock big, bold, and flashy,
will introduce you to your new favorite band. Don't forget your eye liner! ~ Mark Deming