Rosemary's Billycoat

Cheeses of Nazareth, the debut CD of the highly theatrical L.A. alternative metal band Rosemary's Billygoat, showcases a band that's long on attitude but short on solid original songwriting. Many of the songs feature sophomoric humor that suffers from not being accompanied by the visuals of the band's wacky stage show. The musicianship is solid, particularly the lead guitar work of Neal Gargantua. The tunes, however, grind along in a same-sounding groove: a cross between Dead Kennedys-like punk and meandering speed metal, with bows to Black Sabbath and Metallica. The lyrics aim at obvious satirical targets such as Scientology ("L. Ron's Army"), "roach coaches" ("Mafia Lunch Truck"), and homelessness ("Livin' in the Park"). The band achieves its greatest success when it tries on different styles, such as the Cramps-like rockabilly of "Dust Bunny" and the psychedelic silliness of "Love Power" -- they prove they have the chops to do something other than the punk metal grind that characterizes the rest of the LP. The band needs to do that kind of stretching, along with writing songs that have stronger hooks and more subtle lyrics, if they're to go beyond a mere sideshow image. ~ Mary Grady, All Music Guide