Buffalo Revisited Premiere “Freedom” From Volcanic Rock Live
Posted in audiObelisk, Reviews on November 30th, 2021 by JJ Koczan
On Jan. 14, Buffalo Revisited release the live album Volcanic Rock Live through Ripple Music. The gig was captured June 6, 2018, at Sydney, Australia’s the Bald Faced Stag Hotel, and the band led by founding Buffalo vocalist Dave Tice shared the bill that night with Comacozer and Los Hombres del Diablos as they celebrated 45 years since Buffalo released their landmark second album, Volcanic Rock (discussed here), on Vertigo Records.
“I can’t believe it that I’ve been alive that long!” exclaims Tice after the set/album opener “Sunrise (Come My Way)” and before launching into “Freedom,” which is premiering below. He’s not the first of his generation to make the point, and despite the fact that many rockers of the heavy ’70s didn’t survive that decade or the ones since for a vast assortment of reasons, many did without necessarily expecting to. In Tice‘s case, he’s lived long enough to see his band, and the Volcanic Rock LP particularly, gain recognition for breaking the ground it did for heavy rock in Australia. What’s now one of the world’s most vital undergrounds — marked by stylistic variety between the nastiest sludge and mindblown psychedelia and all points between — would not have the life it does were it not for Buffalo and a handful of others who helped make it happen first.
Do you have to know Volcanic Rock to appreciate Volcanic Rock Live? No. I’m not 
going to say it won’t help give context, but Tice and the surrounding Buffalo Revisited lineup of guitarist Troy Scerri, bassist Steve Lorkin and drummer Marcus Fraser own these songs on the stage, whether or not all of them played on the original record. Scerri‘s lead work and the sleek grooves that accompany in “Freedom” alone make that point, but the truth is that one of the reasons Volcanic Rock has endured the way it has is because there isn’t a weak cut on it. “Sunrise (Come My Way)” is a catchy opener that reminds of ’60s vibes without forgetting that the ’60s were over, “Freedom” is righteously stoned forever, “Til My Death” shimmies hard enough to almost make you forget it’s a blues tune, and “The Prophet” rolls out its post-Iommi nod in a way that I heard three bands last week claim as their own, and though it’s not actually that much longer than the song before it, “Pound of Flesh/Shylock” feels all the more epic because of how the jam hypnotizes before the verses and chorus kick in to punch you in the face.
That’s true on the 1973 album and on this performance 45 years later. I’m not trying to tell you Volcanic Rock Live is something it isn’t. This is a specialty item. Mostly it’s probably going to get the attention of heads who either know who Buffalo were or simply trust Ripple‘s intention as regards classic heavy. Fair enough. What I’ll say is, first, this show was worth documenting. The band kills it in 35 minutes and is out. Nailed. Second, that if Buffalo Revisited manages to turn on a few listeners to the studio LP that spawned it and helps give further appreciation to what Tice and company accomplished decades prior, so much the better. Either way, you don’t lose.
Hell, you don’t need me to tell you any of this. I first found my way to Volcanic Rock a decade ago and I’ve not regretted it since, and you’re way cooler than I am so I’m sure you know the deal. Dig into “Freedom” below and enjoy yourself.
Go go go:
BUFFALO REVISITED “Volcanic Rock Live”
Out January 14th on Ripple Music
(limited and classic vinyl, CD, digital)
World preorder: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/volcanic-rock-live
US preorder: https://ripplemusic.bigcartel.com/products?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search=buffalo+revisited
TRACKLIST:
1. Sunrise (Come My Way)
2. Freedom
3. Til My Death
4. The Prophet
5. I – Pound of Flesh II – Shylock
Alongside Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs and Blackfeather, Buffalo pioneered Australia’s heavy metal, pub rock and alternative rock movements in the 70s. In May 1972, they issued their debut single, “Suzie Sunshine”, followed a month later by their debut album “Dead Forever…”. Both the single and album sold well with the album sales reaching 25,000 despite a virtual commercial radio blacklisting stemming from the band’s uncompromising hard rock sound and a ghoulish LP cover. In mid-January 1973, Buffalo supported Vertigo label-mates Black Sabbath on the Australian leg of the Volume IV Tour. The four-piece line-up of Baxter, Economou, Tice and Wells recorded their next two albums, “Volcanic Rock” (July 1973) and “Only Want You For Your Body” (June 1974).
Buffalo pre-dated other early Australian hard rockers like Coloured Balls (formed March 1972), AC/DC (late 1973), The Angels (1974, as The Keystone Angels), and Rose Tattoo. Like many pioneering heavy metal acts, Buffalo incorporated strong influences of blues-rock and psychedelic rock. The band toured across Australia incessantly, at venues ranging from school dances in tiny halls to large outdoor concerts. Some say Buffalo pre-empted doom metal and stoner rock.
BUFFALO REVISITED lineup
Dave Tice — Vocals
Troy Scerri — Guitar
Steve Lorkin — Bass
Marcus Fraser — Drums
