Unreal Damage by Massive Hassle
Massive Hassle's new album, recently dropped and entitled "Unreal Damage," is a bit of a belter after spending a couple of weeks with it! Named for the self-imposed constraints, Massive Hassle comprises Bill (drums) and Marty (guitar) Fisher, who insisted all tracks be recorded live and sung in dual harmonies.
"Chorus of the Dawn" and "Lost in the Changes" reflect the brothers' history in heavier bands such as the sadly missed "Mammothwing" (if you haven’t heard "Black Woman," go and do it now) with heavy riffs that would not be out of place in the realms of metal or doom. Yet "Right Time" takes a riff right out of the Neil Finn playbook as the band strolls around the bars of Nottingham, realising they’re getting older.
"Tenspot" and "Stay Sound" offer real album highlights, showcasing the band's ability to cherry-pick their many influences while making delightful harmony-led songs that demonstrate both the instrumentation and song writing skills of the duo.
While it may have been a massive hassle to record, it certainly isn’t to listen to... here’s hoping for some live shows, if they can be arsed, that is.
What they say about themselves:
Massive Hassle is a two-piece rock band from Nottingham, UK, featuring brothers Marty Fisher and Bill Fisher (both previously seen in bands such as Mammothwing, Church of the Cosmic Skull, Dystopian Future Movies, and many more).
Their debut album "Number One" was recorded live and filmed in singular takes, with both brothers singing in harmony or unison throughout, and released as a series of live videos building up to the album launch in late 2023.
Continuing to combine a variety of influences including garage-rock, soul, jazz, blues, punk, country, and doom-metal with meticulous two-part vocal harmony, Massive Hassle announced the release of their second album "Unreal Damage," out 16 August 2024 on Septaphonic Records.
“A dreamy mix of the Fishers’ musical DNA—we can hear blues, rock, doom metal, soft rootsy touches... and all of it recorded live,” says Classic Rock Magazine.
“Way-soulful in vibe and works as fluidly as one might expect from two dudes who actually grew up together,” reports The Obelisk.
