The Maggots - This Condition is Incurable
(Bad Afro Records)
4 Stars (out of 5 stars)
Reviewed: February 16, 2002
By Tom Schulte
Stockholm's The Maggots explode with energy and a snotty sneer on this premium garage rock revival disc. Their fearsome fuzz and gruesome guitar sound is vital, visceral rock-n-roll. There was a garage wave in Scandinavia in the '80's and Mans P. Mansson (guitar/vocals) was part of that movement as part of Wylde Mammoths (one of the first bands to record for Crypt Records), Crimson Shadows and Friends. Bassist Steffen Hellstrom was also in Wylde Mammoths and Friends and Jonas Lundberg (drums) has a past in Slammer and A-Bombs. These journeyman psychedelic rockers combine their experience and vigor for this more-than-suitable follow-up to their excellent debut LP, Get Hooked (Low Impact Records). Also, available on 10" vinyl, this CD edition includes three bonus tracks taken from the Gonna Make You Pay 7" on Bad Afro. While their originals rock sufficient to carry this disc to dawn and back, they include some righteous covers: a searing "Boy From Nowhere" (DMZ) and the workout for their two guitarists from The Turpentines, "Heading For The Texas Border," also covered by the Flamin' Groovies.