JING

Upon release in 1972, Vertigo Records proclaimed, "Dead Forever is better in quality, production and music-wise than Black Sabbath's Vol. 4." While hyperbolic marketing is nothing new, this statement is largely misguided, unfair to the band, and generally misrepresentative of Buffalo's powers. The mighty Sabbath are their most obvious influence, but for the most part they're better when attempting something other than primal heavy metal. The record opens with a satisfyingly dreamy, otherworldly tone that recalls post-Barrett Pink Floyd (oddly, they don't explore this style further), before making an abrupt and clumsy segue into Sabbath land, sounding like awkward teenagers struggling to emulate their heroes. But Buffalo is more accomplished than that, and they quickly prove it with "Suzy Sunshine," a cloudless blues-rock number that possesses a vocal closely resembling one Ozzy Osbourne — minus the doom-and-gloom. Guitarist John Baxter's talent becomes apparent here as well, an impression confirmed with his tasteful, Hendrix-inspired intro for "Pay My Dues." This Blues Image cover later features a nice trade-off between the two lead vocalists (yes there are two, yet neither plays an instrument), and during Free's "I'm a Mover" one or both of the vocalists hit high notes that would do any metal fan proud. "Ballad of Irving Fink" is a near-glam boogie rock tune with more fine vocalizing, and "Bean Stew" finds the group at the crossroads of late-'60s garage and early-'70s hard rock. A definite highlight. "Forrest Rain" is another detour, this one a moody, melancholy piece with a light psychedelic soundtrack and an Ozzy-like lyrical honesty. But the whole album seems like a warm-up when the awesome title track appears, a wobble-inducing Black Sabbath homage where the unit beams despite the morbid subject manner (led by Baxter, who really gives Tony Iommi a run for his money), and appears worthy of the extravagant publicity.

 引（自rockmaniac）

來自澳洲雪梨的硬式搖滾團體叱吒於1972至1977年之間,此團在法國比在他們家鄉還受歡迎前身團名為HEAD,後才改名為BUFFALO.72年的首張專輯DEAD FOREVER強力的吉他 riffing酷似Black Sabbath的樂風為他們贏得了很好的名聲,他們在再接再厲的73年第二張專輯VOLCANIC ROCK更是持續的有佳績出現,音樂的力度更加飆悍無比充滿活力的動感律動讓人血脈歕張興奮不已!74年Only Want You For Your Body音樂的表現更是傾向於Heavy metal的力道JOHN BAXTER的瘋狂電吉他表現更是令人激賞,可惜的是自他離團後他們後續的兩張專輯76年Mother’s Choice77年Average Rock and Roll就回歸於主流的流行搖滾聲勢也大不如前.

無論如何他們的前3張專輯是所有硬搖迷必定要朝拜的必須必備專輯.