“The Nature of Paper”
Self released
fox45.bandcamp.com
Rochester’s Fox 45 released its new album, “The Nature of Paper,” on June 12 and my gawd, this band has grown. On this long-player, the band slugs it out at it’s fighting weight, taking the rudiments found in their earlier work like 2014’s “Gehenna,” 2015’s “Urinal Acid,” or 2016’s "Ashes of Man,” and picking up the pace a bit. Routinely lumped in with bands that travel in slightly more stoner-psych circles, Fox 45 hasn’t forgotten their roots as fans, not just as musicians. In fact they plunged into this thing seven years ago with no pretense, no preening. I mean I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them play “War Pigs” a time or two.
“The Nature of Paper” kicks off with the crack of drummer Casey Learch’s whip on “Psychedelicate,” then makes a sweet segue into “Awake in the Dark,” where the guitar actually swings despite the distortion and energy. From there the band — Learch on drums, Vickie Tee on guitar and vocals, Nick Walter on guitar, and Amanda Rampe on bass and vocals — goes on a sonic journey copping to low slung tempos and grooves. It moves with bravado, balls and purpose but doesn’t detract from the hints of dark and doom.
