This four piece classic rock outfit from just across the Severn Estuary first came to my attention at last year's Hard Rock Hell festival, when in a smoking hot Queen Vic Public House, one chilly Friday afternoon, they delivered a tight NWOBHM influenced set that had the beered up masses (yup that included me) eating out of their studded wrist banded hands.

Hence, when this excellently packaged five track EP dropped into the URHQ PO Box a few months back I guess it was only right that the person proclaiming that "he'd be looking our for the boys from Lydney in 2011" to perform the task of reviewing the guy's pride and joy, right?  So, why has it taken yours truly quite so long to get a seemingly easy review committed to the mighty virtual Uber Rock universe?  Well in short I wasn't really expecting Toadstool to sound quite like they do in the studio, and it sort of threw me......completely.

Recorded at Cardiff's Screamadelica Studios this five track EP is part Rush, part Wolfmother, part Megadeth, part The Darkness and oddly part Strange Fruit (and I don't mean that as a disparaging remark either as I love 'Still Crazy's' soundtrack album).  The trouble  is with so many comparisons being drawn on such a fledgling EP I'm having trouble hearing...well...Toadstool. Couple it with the fact that vocalist/bassist Alex Macaskill has one of those voices that you will either love or hate, this is exactly why I've taken so bloody long to review this EP. Apologies guys, but I wasn't simply going to write the first thing that came into my head, as that isn't always the full (or correct) picture to be painting.

Of the five tracks on offer here lead track 'Pigzilla' is easily the band's standout track as it does sound exactly how I remember Toadstool that hot and sweaty December afternoon, sharp riffs and an enthralling if somewhat lazy vocal line that suits itself perfectly to the rock monster the guys conjure to life in just over 4 minutes.  If all five tracks had been like this then this reviewing lark really would be a dawdle I can tell you.

But as I've found out many a time you can never make any assumptions in this game as the boogie rock of 'Hands Of Time' raises it head next and suddenly I'm lost, wondering if that is Dave Mustaine singing for Spider? Strange as it might sound I defy anyone who is aware of both artistes to not spot the (I'm guessing) unintentional metal mash up. 

'In A Dream' is next up and this is a track that has actually grown on my hugely in my time spent in the Toadstool forest, as it has a sussed out NWOBHM-lite swagger that manages to draw on the positives I took from the EP's opener, delivering something a little more Arena Rock focussed.  This sets things up nicely for the strutting 'All Tied Up' which is a meaty chunk of rock that the mythical Pigzilla would surely love to get its tusks into, whilst EP closer 'The Water Witch' returns to the "Mustaine-Boogie" that frankly confuses the fuck out of me and things sort of fizzle out rather than go out all guns blazing. 

As a debut effort then this five tracker is a solid first statement of intent to rock, which should allow the guys to make the right noises and hopefully move them further up the ladder of fame and fortune.  The trouble is (and this is only my opinion remember) that other bands situated locally to Toadstool like Hellbound and Tempestora sound ahead of the game simply because they have found "their sound", so whatever Alex, Dave, Jack and Nick do next (apart from gigging like crazy), one thing they really do need to do is develop is that Toadstool sound that works so well on tracks like 'Pigzilla'. 

Close then... but not quite the finished article I was expecting after seeing the band live. 

http://www.myspace.com/toadstoolrock