The Godz – 25 Moore years (Outlaw)
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Man, I don’t think I even trust anybody that doesn’t have a couple of Godz records in their collection, even if it’s only to impress chicks. Or said chicks’ biker uncles, whoever. Straight outta Cleveland, the Godz burst onto the scene in 1978, plying a hoary, hairy hybrid of 60’s bubblegum pop and reckless, raucous biker fuzzrawk. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to both solo Nuge and solo Rick Derringer (a good half of the first Godz record could quite accurately be pegged as a greasy homage to “Rock n Roll Hootchie Koo”), they dressed like Hell’s Angels, and they played with their amps turned up to 13, at least. The very definition of 70’s excess, the Godz were more often then not derided by critics as loud, unwholesome KISS rip-offs at best, irredeemably obnoxious at worst. Which is exactly what was so great about ‘em. They toured with both KISS and their fancy-pants glam pop cousins, Angel, in the late 70’s, released two albums, 78’s “Godz” (produced by Grand Funk’s Don Brewer) and ‘79’s “Nothing Sacred”, and then promptly sailed off to Valhalla, or wherever it is that used-up rock stars go. The Godz’ gravelly vocalist, axe-handler, and all around main-man Eric Moore has revamped the band, in name-and-attitude at least, a few times over the years – in 1985 with former members of Suthin’ rockers the Outlaws, and more recently with redneck metal howlers American Dog. Every version sounds pretty much the same, cuz Eric Moore ain’t never gonna change, baby. He’s the quintessential rock n’ roll showman, howling and carrying on and humping his guitar and encouraging the crowd to clap along and scream “Motherfucker!” as loud as they can. Ok, so he hasn’t rocked an actual arena for 25 years, but that sure as hell don’t mean he couldn't, ya know?

Anyway, Canuck biker metal label Outlaw has done rock and roll a great service by putting together this bad ass compilation, featuring 25 years worth o’ Godz material packed into 2 solid discs of thunder and cranked amps and sloppy blues riffs and mouthy come-ons, and of course, that immortal mantra: “The Godz are rock and roll machines…the Godz are rock and roll machines…” If ever there was a cat that you could trust to rock every room he walked into, it was Eric Moore, and here’s 27 sterling examples, served up raw and ready.

I must mention however, that Outlaw did not do ME such a great service, since they only gave me the second “Bonus” disc, but what the hell. The first disc compiles tracks from the original Godz albums, as well as recent tunes with American Dog (including the certified cock rock classic “Criminal Mind”, and I have no doubt that all that Godz all at once will make a man outta ya. Luckily, I got the fuckin’ records already. As for the bonus disc, it’s got interview clips with Eric barkin’ like a junkyard dog about Ohio and rock and roll and other important subjects, two ’79 demo tracks, and a buncha live stuff, including a majestic 8 minute workout of “Gotta Keep a Runnin’”, from a 1995 show. If you’ve ever wondered just who invented the biker boogie that Manowar, or Junkyard, or the Four Horseman cut their jagged teeth on, wonder no more, Jack. The Godz did. Worship accordingly.
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