PRIMEVIL — Smokin' Bats at Campton's (review)

PRIMEVIL — Smokin' Bats at Campton's album cover Album · 1974 · Proto-Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Kingcrimsonprog
Smokin’ Bats At Campton’s is the first and only official studio album by the incredible classic rock band from Indiana, Primevil. (The album title references the consumption of Marijuana at Primevil front man Dave Campton’s home, in case you were wondering)

Although the album was released back in 1974, it was long unavailable on cd until Radioactive records decided to release it once more in 2006. Despite its hard to find status, the record is hugely loved by those in the know and is often cited as one of the most important albums in the development of the Stoner Rock and Metal genres. One phrase that always seems connected to the album is “A Touchstone of Stoner Rock.”

If you are unfamiliar with the band, imagine if Clutch had have released an album in 1974 and you will have a good idea of what to expect for about half of the tracks. There are touches of the best moments of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin in there too; with a lot of musical complexity, frequent guitar solos over funky drums and rumbling fuzzy bass and great attitude filled vocals that sound way ahead of their time.

There is also some variety on the album, such as the instrumental semi-ballad ‘Fantasies,’ which starts off soft but soon employs a whole bunch of great guitar solos to get things going again and the album closer ‘Your Blues,’ is a slow blues track with lots of harmonica. Occasionally things can even take on a progressive, almost King Crimson sound, such as on certain riffs on the normal otherwise ‘Hey Lover,’ and ‘Progressive,’ and overall there is a lot of ground covered in the album’s eight-track duration.

In Summary; It may not live up entirely to the hype surrounding it, but Smokin’ Bats At Campton’s is a very good album that everyone who likes both Classic Rock and Stoner Rock and Stoner Metal should check out without hesitation. This is an album of large historical interest that also stands up on its own merits, especially in terms of lead guitar and more than worthy of a place in your collection.

Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Everything Hurts And I'm Dying Atmospheric Sludge Metal
NEGATIVE BLISS
Buy this album from MMA partners
L'impôt du sang Melodic Black Metal
CONIFÈRE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Pleroma Progressive Metal
ORGONE
Buy this album from MMA partners
n​ê​bam​Ω​ejn Atmospheric Black Metal
TRHÄ
Buy this album from MMA partners
∫um'ad​∂​ejja cavvaj Atmospheric Black Metal
TRHÄ
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Origin Of Infinity - Chronosphere (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
ORIGIN OF INFINITY
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Kingdom of Heaven - “Pleasures of Pain”
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Bosh66· 1 day ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 18 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 18 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 18 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed