Volcanic Rock (album)
Encyclopedia
Volcanic Rock is the second album for Australian proto-heavy metal
band Buffalo
, recorded and originally released in 1973 on the Vertigo
label. The album was stylistically a much harder, heavier and rawer release than its predecessor (Dead Forever...
) – marking a move away from the band's previous progressive rock
influences, although retaining a psych
element to their sound. Volcanic Rock had been recorded effectively as a live-in-the-studio effort, with only vocal and additional guitar overdubs added later during the recording sessions.
The album courted controversy with its cover artwork upon its release. Illustrated by J. Phillip Thomas, the artwork was designed as a vertically-opening gatefold
cover, with the top half of the cover (i.e. the front cover) depicting an androgynous human standing atop a volcanic mountain holding up a phallus
-shaped rock, whilst the lower half of the cover (i.e. rear cover) depicted the base of the mountain as the lower half of a female torso
(viewed from the rear), menstruating molten lava
. Inevitably, it led to accusations of misogyny
towards the band and many record stores either refusing to stock or display the album on the shelves as a result.
Despite this, the album is regarded by both many fans and critics as the band's most musically accomplished effort and has subsequently become a much sought-after album by music collectors. The album was remastered and reissued in September 2005 by Australian record label Aztec Music on CD
with additional tracks.
"Freedom" was covered by Screaming Trees
as an unlisted B-side to their single "Butterfly" from Sweet Oblivion
.
^ On original LP
release, was a single two-part track - divided into two separate tracks on Aztec Music CD reissue
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Buffalo
Buffalo (band)
Buffalo was an early heavy metal band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1971. The band left a legacy with Australia's heavy metal, pub rock and alternative rock movements. The band had evolved from the Brisbane blues-rock outfit Head, which was originally formed in 1968 by Dave Tice and Peter Wells...
, recorded and originally released in 1973 on the Vertigo
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
label. The album was stylistically a much harder, heavier and rawer release than its predecessor (Dead Forever...
Dead Forever...
Dead Forever... is the debut album for Australian proto-Heavy Metal band Buffalo, recorded and originally released in 1972. Considered by some to be the first Australian heavy metal album, Dead Forever... also strongly displayed the band's progressive rock and psychedelic influences...
) – marking a move away from the band's previous progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
influences, although retaining a psych
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
element to their sound. Volcanic Rock had been recorded effectively as a live-in-the-studio effort, with only vocal and additional guitar overdubs added later during the recording sessions.
The album courted controversy with its cover artwork upon its release. Illustrated by J. Phillip Thomas, the artwork was designed as a vertically-opening gatefold
Gatefold
A gatefold is a type of fold used for advertising around a magazine or section, and for packaging of media such as vinyl records.- LP covers :...
cover, with the top half of the cover (i.e. the front cover) depicting an androgynous human standing atop a volcanic mountain holding up a phallus
Phallus
A phallus is an erect penis, a penis-shaped object such as a dildo, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. Any object that symbolically resembles a penis may also be referred to as a phallus; however, such objects are more often referred to as being phallic...
-shaped rock, whilst the lower half of the cover (i.e. rear cover) depicted the base of the mountain as the lower half of a female torso
Torso
Trunk or torso is an anatomical term for the central part of the many animal bodies from which extend the neck and limbs. The trunk includes the thorax and abdomen.-Major organs:...
(viewed from the rear), menstruating molten lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
. Inevitably, it led to accusations of misogyny
Misogyny
Misogyny is the hatred or dislike of women or girls. Philogyny, meaning fondness, love or admiration towards women, is the antonym of misogyny. The term misandry is the term for men that is parallel to misogyny...
towards the band and many record stores either refusing to stock or display the album on the shelves as a result.
Despite this, the album is regarded by both many fans and critics as the band's most musically accomplished effort and has subsequently become a much sought-after album by music collectors. The album was remastered and reissued in September 2005 by Australian record label Aztec Music on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
with additional tracks.
"Freedom" was covered by Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time the band reached its most successful period...
as an unlisted B-side to their single "Butterfly" from Sweet Oblivion
Sweet Oblivion
Sweet Oblivion is Screaming Trees' 6th full length album that was released on September 8, 1992. The recording was the band's highest landmark in terms of album sales, and was the closest they would come to ever achieving mainstream success...
.
Track listing
All tracks written by Dave Tice and John Baxter, unless noted.- Sunrise (Come My Way)
- Freedom
- Till My Death
- The Prophet
- (i) Intro: Pound of Flesh (Baxter/Peter Wells)^
- (ii) Shylock^
- Sunrise (Come My Way) (single version)*
- Shylock - (live recording - Sydney Spring Festival 1973, Hyde Park, SydneyHyde Park, SydneyHyde Park is a large park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Hyde Park is on the eastern side of the Sydney central business district. It is the southernmost of a chain of parkland that extends north to the shore of Port Jackson . It is approximately rectangular in shape, being squared at the...
)*
- Bonus tracks on the 2005 Aztec Music reissue
^ On original LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
release, was a single two-part track - divided into two separate tracks on Aztec Music CD reissue
Line-up
- Dave Tice - lead vocals
- Peter Wells - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- John Baxter - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Jimmy Economou - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....