Hutch dives into the mosh pit for the new album from Kentucky favorites… Belushi Speed Ball

I’d crossed paths with the crazy antics of crossover thrashers BSB back in 2021 when reviewing their EPs Stella 1 and Stella 2. I’m not a huge fan of this style but BSB managed to click with me. And I wasn’t alone, with the Metal Archives giving it an 89% rating. Roll forward past 2022’s What, Us Worry? And we are ready to tackle album number three. 

From memory, this continues in the same vein. Frenzied riffing, vocals that come at you like hailstones in a storm, and all served up with a side helping of irreverent humour. It’s fun, intense fun from start to finish. My Favourite Colour is Pizza ensures things begin in the required fashion, and it’s downhill (in a tongue in cheek kind of way) from hereon in. Songs like Eels and Escalators, Garth, Let My Family Go, and The Hash Slinging Slasher are all clearly written with personal meanings, or just because they sound a bit mad! 

It’s a no-nonsense approach that gets the urge to dive in the pit pulsing. Yes, they draw on numerous influences, and there’s bits of multiple bands popping out as you listen, but it’s delivered so well that you soon stop trying and get more involved in the songs. 

Unsurprisingly, the songs are not long. Five are under two minutes and the longest doesn’t make it to 3:30, but that’s probably the appeal of BSB. It’s in your face antics, thrashing goodness and the chaos that we don’t always get in such a serious world. A band that obtains a Golden Pizza award for selling one copy of their single deserves to be applauded for their self-depreciating approach. It isn’t going to win any awards, but if there was one for the short, sharp funster, then Stellkira would be in with a shout. 

Stellkira is out this Friday the 10th May in all the normal places!!