Bobaflex – Anything That Moves (Album Review)

The five-piece Rock band Bobaflex from Point Pleasant, West Virginia are anything else than unknowns in the modern US scene. Formed in 1998 by two frontmen, brothers Shaun and Martin McCoy, have become known as one of the most hard-working and touring bands in the US. Bobaflex, whose name is influenced in dependence to StarWars’ Boba Fett, has released six full-length albums and one six-track EP. The unusual partition on the singers position, which is shared by the above mentioned brothers depending on the song, represents a really unique feature in the Rock-scene, but underlines the variety in Bobaflex’s sound from Stadium-Rock to Nu-Metal.

After dealing with turmoil with several labels in the beginning of their career, Bobaflex released the EP Chemical Valley (2010) and the following two full-length albums Hell In My Heart (2011) as well as the positively received Charlatan’s Web in 2013 through their own label BFX Records. With constantly growing success over the years, the band shared the US festival stages with the likes of different genres such as Nickelback or Disturbed, to Filter, Sevendust, and Mushroomhead, or touring with In This Moment, just to name a few. After Bassist Jerod Mankin left the band in 2014, the band’s lineup is now completed by third guitarist Dave Tipple, Tommy Johnson on drums, and the new member, Jymmy Tolland, on bass guitar.

Returning to the scene, now in 2015, with the latest release of the seventh full-length album, Anything That Moves, Alternative Rock fans from Nickelback to more modern-minded Disturbed followers should cock one’s ears. Produced by Joe Viers and Martin McCoy at Sonic Lounge Studios in Ohio, and far away from Hollywood’s goldsmiths, the material Bobaflex offers with the new record is best forged, impressively ageless, modern Rock music with big moments and melodies that also pay homage to heroes from the late ’70s and ’80s Rock -n- Roll scene. From the first track “Start a War,“ the band grooves through fifteen compositions, showing all facets of mass-compatible Radio and Stadium Rock. Dirty riffing, lusty vocals, and fresh hook-lines are the ingredients which enthrall the listener from the beginning.

With this said, the following, “Lose Control,” combines AC/DC likewise guitars with double bass attacks that peak in a cool, grooving dual voice chorus of the McCoy brothers, a really outstanding mixture which sets the band apart from other acts in the genre. The sleazy, dirty guitar-riffing continues immediately in “Dry Your Eyes“ before the outstanding “Mama Don’t Take My Drugs Away“ sprays ’80s flair and ends the first round dance of potential single hits in a row. Then there is the ballad “A Spider In The Dark,“ which is again convincing with an outstanding dual voice chorus and will cause goosebumps for sure. Therefore, tracks like “Show Me“ or “Objectified“ engrave with a simple Rock -n- Roll brute force and the opposite feeling for ear-catching melodies and Wah-Wah guitar combats, which constrain the listener for hours.

Why the second ballad and acoustic song “Turn Me On“ still is not rotating 24 hours on the mainstream radio channels instead of the usual suspects is a total mystery; it is a composition which could not be better arranged for this genre. Furthermore, “Pray to the Devil“ satisfies old-school fans with classical Metal riffing, lovers of newer acts, as for example Like A Storm, should become ecstatic with the two, album closing tracks “End Of The World“ and the hymn “Forgiven,“ that ends in a jam-session like an orgiastic guitar solo battle. Left to mention is that European fans know the true promise to get the three singles “Bad Man,“ “I’m Glad You’re Dead,“ and “Never Coming Back“ of the antecessor Charlatan’s Web as bonus tracks via the European label partner Eternal Sound Records from Germany.

With Anything That Moves, Bobaflex are ready to make it big, deservedly. Instead to hedge one’s bets, the five-piece serve pure Rock -n- Roll hits on a chain of pearls, which do not have to hide behind the megasellers in the scene. With the massive touring and live-qualities, it is beyond all questions that the McCoys are on the best way to the top. CrypticRock gives Anything That Moves 5 out of 5 stars.