Review: Sweaty Betty ‘The Sweatier The Bettyer’
As I previously said in my review of Granicus’s self-titled album, I sometimes have more fun discovering unknown bands of the past rather than new ones of today.
There is a plethora of artists who might not have ever reached the heights or notoriety of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, but whose sincere focus on rocking with all their might makes them checking out – whether as a snapshot of the ‘70s or as a lesson on how it’s done.
And few places yielded such unrelenting talent as the Midlands region of Britain. With a name sounding like a risqué erotic novel from the 18th century, Sweaty Betty hailed from the Black Country and featured future Budgie drummer Pete Boot and future Dark Star vocalist Rik Staines. Rise Above Records has gifted us with The Sweatier The Bettyer, a collection of rare cuts from this obscure act.
Live Wire whisks along with a Deep Purple-like tempo featuring twin guitar attack and some nice, strummed bass for the chorus. It’s typical of the proto-metal of this era in that it hints at the NWOBHM future while still being rooted in a bellbottom-and-moustache bluesy aesthetic of the time. Concrete Horizons harkens closer to Free and Savoy Brown with a cool driving groove and some cheesy, if endearing, falsetto vocals from Staines amidst an aura of shaking tambourine.
This record is absolutely sweatier, bettyer, and a whole lotta fun…
The ominous semi-ballad Earthlight reminds me somewhat of Fleetwood Mac’s Green Manalishi. It hovers mournfully in the slower periods while revving up for a faster chorus. The pretty instrumental Yellow Bird touches on American country rock before yielding to Died Trying, a six-and-a-half-minute proto-metal rock-out. Meanwhile, Rock N Roll Singer is a fun, if unremarkable, number perfect for a drive in the sticks. By far the hardest hitting track is the closer, The Gods Themselves – clearly the product of a different recording session. The guitars are thick and domineering with a rich resonance.
Admittedly, Sweaty Betty didn’t do much to set themselves apart from famous contemporaries like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, or fellow obscure acts like Leafhound and Iron Claw. However, they rock with an authenticity that only a bunch of factory-town English lads from the early ‘70s could pull off. This record is absolutely sweatier, bettyer, and a whole lotta fun!
Label: Rise Above Records
Band Links: N/A
Scribed by: Rob Walsh
