Coloured Balls - First Supper Last (1976)

Australia's Coloured Balls are the sort of thing legends are made of. In their homeland, that's exactly how they're revered, though their impact in the states and other parts of the world has gone virtually unheard. Headed by guitar hero Lobby Loyde, Coloured Balls pioneered a raucous, abrasive and loose sound that at one point became the mantra of skinheads in their native country. It also sparked a movement of similarly heavy bands in the region, though it's clear that none of them ever matched the visceral intensity of Coloured Balls. After issuing a pair of revolutionary albums, "Ball Power" and "Heavy Metal Kid", the band mysteriously split at the height of their visibility in Australia. Posthumously, "First Supper Last" was issued in 1976, perhaps as a means of bolstering Loyde's solo career which was in its infancy at the time. Though the album was issued in '76, it is in fact, the earliest recordings of Coloured Balls. To clarify, Coloured Balls did not yet exist in name, but a good portion of the founding musicians were present for the sessions that are featured here.

"First Supper Last" is the sound of a band finding its sound. Though it is essentially a blues workout on most of the material here, the sound is punishing and energetic. It's evident from the start how this band earned its reputation. The album is padded with numerous cover tunes, but the original material is what really demands your attention. Loydes guitar work is abrasive, chaotic and teetering on the verge of destruction...everything a charged rock and roll album should be.

Though the band's career was brief, their legacy has stood the test of time and solicited the praise of many Australian artists who reached loftier heights than Loyd and company ever did. Sadly, Loyd died of lung cancer in April of this year, though his legendary status is more than assured. Dig this fantastic slab of powerful rock and roll...you too will appreciate the genius of Coloured Balls...

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