3 Wheeler Band- Smoke N Groove (2013)

3 Wheeler Band- Smoke N Groove (2013)

Classic hard rock with southern US influences, placed with power and guts, a band form Monterrey, México, my hometown finally throwing a powerful gauntlet in the face of our northern neighbor, this trio of Mexican rockers really know how to play, how to hit hard their instruments and how to make those wild guitars scream in pain.

Smoke N Groove is the debut of this band, more in tune whit what’s happening in smoking Texas or in swampy Louisiana, than the crime wars in México, big guitars roar as the intro to You Aint That Lucky, and the band quickly acquires a powerful groove with interlocking guitar and bass and a great drum work, the band knows how to permeate a passionate delivering in their powerful groove, as the vocals sound intense and soulful, Me & My Jack, and ode to Jack Daniels I guess starts quickly with a powerful pace, the bands knows how to swing and the influence of bands like ZZ Top Black Sabbath or the mighty Zeppelin is evident in some places, hot rhythms and monstrous guitars are upfront while the band seems to flow into boogie with a confidence that sound so natural, My Hangover presents a chance of pace, the chunkier beats are completely welcomed as the band play in a completely brutal style that demands to be heard.

Guitars and drums form a powerful wall of sound in the intro to Beg for Mercy, the band creates an enormous grooves that recall Texas heroes like Pantera but without the vulgar display of power, more melodically oriented and more rooted in boogie, although you cannot sub estimate their hard rhythms in any way, so by the time we arrive to Break Me the band give us more space and we are confronted by an amazing groove that owes a lot to that ZZ Top-Jimi Hendrix connection, I must say that the vocals kind of puts me off a little because they tend to fall into the southern style singing cliché, with similarities to the known names of Phil Anselmo, Pepper Keenan or Kyle Thomas,  but the guitars are so fine as they descend into hellish blues with a wonderful executed riffing massacre.

Fuckin Issues has an amazing groove, infuriated by a clear and hungry sound of the guitars and precise drumming, the band is always a 100% percent into its groove and although the vocals still is their only fault, they manage to deliver the song in a masterful way, the intro of Purple Light reminds me a lot to Grand Funk Railroad, is pure drama sung in the dark, between clouds of smoke, it’s a perfect reflexive moment and a chance to really listen something original form their singer, as he sounds naked and sincere without pretending to be Mr. Anselmo.

The band keeps their bloody boogie up as Smokin Groove rolls by, sounding so confident in their strengths as to keep a locked groove going stronger and stronger with each note, guitars create the perfect tension and drums keep the spirit high at all moment, at this moment the band realize, I guess that their powerful guitars, bass and drums doesn’t need anything else, the space is filled and the band confident in it instrumental prowess leaves no room for weak vocals.

3 Wheeler Band is a great surprise coming form a town that long ago forgot how to rock hard, very derivative from the Southern Rock legends of Texas and Louisiana, but with a very passionate delivery that makes up perfectly for every cliché they step on, is a record that demands listening and that rewards the listener generously, a record that might not transcend or change your life, but one who perfectly understand the basic principles of rock, setting up the volume, play like a beast and have a good time, if that’s the deal, this band really knows their business.