The Fucking Champs

VI

[3/5] Yeah, they’ve been putting out pretty much the same album for the last 10 years, with pretty much the same cover photo for the last seven, with pretty much the same NWOBHM-style guitar harmonies on each one, but AC/DC and Motörhead have been repeating themselves for over 30 years apiece and you never hear anyone complain. Which isn’t to say the Fucking Champs are AC/DC or Motörhead, but let’s see one of those bands have the balls to give Neil Hamburger a guest groan on their latest album (see “Fozzy Goes To Africa”). On the Champs’ newest instro-metal opus, the Tim Green/Tim Soete/Josh Smith triumvirate is no longer intact; when Smith split to form the Makes Nice, Trans Am guitarist Phil Manley stepped up to join the band’s quest for the Holy Grail or the Pick Of Destiny or whatever it is one quests for when simply wailing all over the fretboard just isn’t enough. (DRAG CITY) J. Bennett