Review: Budos Band ‘VII’
Any thoughts or discussion of my favorite bands of the last twenty years absolutely must include New York’s legendary Budos Band (having recently dropped ‘the’ from their moniker).
The all-instrumental, nine-piece ensemble presents a unique sound that’s equal parts cinematic afrobeat and soul, mixed with a hefty dose of ‘60s psychedelia and ‘70s funk, all of which is enveloped in a Sabbath-esque, haze of doom and proto-metal with hints of occult comings and goings.
On their early releases, Budos Band leaned into the ‘70s funk-soundtrack aspect of their music, before experimenting with darker tones and occult-ish vibes that, I’d argue, began with their fourth album, Burnt Offering. Since then, the band have, at times, incorporated a more riff-based attack, that is of course complimented by perfectly timed blasts of brass and anchored by a rhythm section that is among the very best in the business.
Budos Band recently left their longtime label Daptone, moving to Diamond West, a new label founded by the band’s guitarist Thomas Brenneck and baritonist Jared Tankel, with their first release on their new home being the 2023 EP Frontier’s Edge and now, almost two years later, we have VII, their first full-length on the recently formed label.
Opening with the unstoppable rhythmic bounce of Thrice Crowned, they waste zero time as they quickly display everything we’ve come to love about this collective: excellent composition, killer percussion, fuzzy low-end bass, awesome organ flourishes, all accentuated by perfectly timed blasts of climactic horns. Up next we have what is destined to be a classic in the fuzzy, psychedelic funk riffing of Overlander, a track that recalls the energy of Old Engine Oil from 2019’s V.
Brenneck’s instant, earworm guitar riff gets a hefty, walloping back-up from drummer Brian Profillio’s next-level tone and timing, to say nothing of the rumbling fuzz emanating from Dan Foder’s bass. As always with Budos Band, the waves of awesome, well-timed brass blasts are cinematic and impactful. Overlander definitely emanates a sense of danger as they are absolute masters of building mood with their music.
We shift gears a bit with Night Raid, a tension-builder boasting plenty of cutting-edge percussive awesomeness that anchors a psychedelic funk groove and ‘70s soundtrack horn blasts, all the while sonically hinting at potential danger. Lair Of 1000 Serpents is an epic piece of music, with an almost Latin flair in the soaring horns, funky, yet tasteful organ action and an absolute clinic in funk, groove drumming from Profillio.
This is unparalleled instrumental funk-psych…
Kudzu Vine changes the mood with a psychedelic, bass-heavy, seventies-funk groove that twists and turns throughout a haze of brass playing and perfectly timed organ blasts. Meanwhile, Sharky’s Delight sees organist Mike Deller, joined by Brenneck on synth, as they craft a trippy, late ‘60s, keyboard-heavy, space-out that serves as a nice change of pace, before the ‘70s funk-groove of Curse Of The Ivory Fang, a cinematic master-class that in another universe would serve as the opening track to a ‘70s Blaxploitation detective flick, wherein the protagonist is chasing a cult of religious, sci-fi weirdos through the streets of New York.
We begin our gradual descent into the back half of VII with the trippy, rhythmic funk of the fuzz-drenched Behind The Black Curtain. Showcasing their mastery of mood, the track is a clinic in psychedelic funk with the brass blasts conjuring a sense of unease and the band sounding all at once in your face through a wall of distorted, early-Sabbath smoke.
Escape From Ptenoda City finds them veering back into their funky, cinematic groove while penultimate number, The Strigoi, rides a lazy rhythmic swing with a wicked, head-bobbing effect. Swirls of effects and organ weirdness weave throughout, while the ever-present horns lift everything into the stratosphere. It all leads directly into the closer, Mean Streets, an epic ‘70s funk-psych soundtrack if there ever was one. The album wraps up perfectly, as if you could see the grainy end credits scrolling by.
There’s been a robust neo-funk and soul scene brewing over the last couple of decades, and Budos Band sits right at the tip of that spear. They boast a collective of otherworldly musicians, each excelling on their instruments while sharing a unified vision. This is unparalleled instrumental funk-psych, as they tell an aural story, crafting their own soundtrack across their records, always compelling and always an amazing listen.
VIIfinds Budos Band continuing their evolution, diving deeper into their sonic exploration of darker, fuzzier vibes without ever straying too far from their epic, cinematic ‘70s funk wheelhouse. If you’re in the mood for something different, I’d highly recommend giving Budos Band a spin. It’s masterful musicianship, and the perfect jumping-on point for the uninitiated.
Label: Diamond West Records
Band Links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Martin Williams
