The Heelwalkers by The Heelwalkers

Short Bus is known as much for his feats of strength as for his "Wyman-esque" stylings. Short Bus Tully: truly a man's man.

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Reviews:

AMPLIFIER

"Whatever free associates into your head when someone says "Canadian music" will have to be mopped up along with the Rorschach puddle you'll leave on the floor after one spin of the Heelwalkers' full bore, last-man-standing debut album.

Hailing from the improbable primal rock hotbed of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Heelwalkers envision a perfect world where "Ace Of Spades" is the national anthem, the Dictators' first album outsold Thriller and the Stooges and MC5 never broke up in a Detroit that hosts the true Rock Hall of Fame - the one where Commisioner Iggy denies the Eagles' request for reinstatement because they bet against rock.

The Heelwalkers love the rock, and the dirtier, the better. Lead guitarist Benny Bjabin, a former Abba roadie, and rhythm guitarist Ree Ree Bowler trade riffs that would make Tony Iommi blled from the eyes, while the rhythm section of bassist Short Bus Tully and drummer Tubby Lovespy bear more than a passing resemblance to an orchestrated 10-car pileup.

As for the songs, "Open Season" is the bastard son of Angus young and Lita Ford, "El Camino" screams first Kiss album (without the make-up) and "Rockin' With Seka" (when was the last really good porn star rock reference?) is a smoking gene splice of Sabbath and Stooges.

Bow to the north; the Heelwalkers album is the real rock this year."

- Brian Baker

THE CALGARY STRAIGHT

"From a rocker's perspective, the Heelwalkers' self-titled debut is one of the most welcome discs to come out of the Maritimes in awhile. No scenester-targeted fuzzy cod-rock, no wheezing goddamn accordions, just plain old mean-ass guitar fury and pounding drums. One look at these decidedly non-photogenic Halifax thugs on the cover - bad hair, scruffy denim and a complete lack of contemporary rock fashion - are either post-Motorhead killers or very bad biker band. In a way, actually, they're both. The merits of cocky tunes like "Dirty Fingers" and "Old School" ("It's time for schoolin', so take your seat and forget what you have learned") are somewhat diminished by songs like their ode to wrestling, "Rock Bottom" (complete with the Rock's famous tagline "Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?"), and the cheesy groove-grinder "U.S. Marine."

Nonetheless, by the time this disc finishes, fans of bands like Sweden's the Hellacopters or Norway's Gluecifer will know that good, heavy rock and roll isn't coming solely from Scandinavia."

- Rick Overwater

EXCLAIM!

"The Heelwalkers play a tightly wound brand of hard rock, with their debut CD intermittently referencing the stoner rock terrain of Fu Manchu, along with the MC5 and metal territory of the Hellacopters. "Open Season" rattles highways with muscle-car attitude and "Shake My Ass" races with bluesy toughness. "Rockin' With Seka" and "Rattlesnake Boogie" beat down doors with fist pounding fierceness. "Crank It Up" offers greater pop leanings and features excellent slide-guitar and horns. Much to their credit, the Heelwalkers skillfully manage to trek into a range of heavy rock areas, capably playing a variety of voluminous tunes."

- Rob Nay

NOW MAGAZINE

"After the third ass-shakin' blast on this Heelwalkers disc, I had to check a second time to see that these flame-throwing rock 'n' roll hooligans really are from Nova Scotia. But apparently, despite the disproportionate amount of tweeness that's come from the East Coast, there are some MC5-schooled bruisers like the Heelwalkers around who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and blow a few amps. Songs about chicks, trucks and brawls won't score points for originality, but fans of the Lazy Cowgirls and the Devil Dogs will be delighted nonetheless."

- Tim Perlich

CAUSTIC TRUTHS

"Listening to this CD, its pure rock n roll from start to finish. Really hard rock 'n roll, the kind where my speakers start to smoke after a while. The lyrics are about women, having a good time, and shaking their asses. The guitar solos are timed perfectly, not too long and fill in the songs majestically. Their music is kinda near the Nashville Pussy side of the jukebox, and from the pictures of the band they all kinda look like the signer for N.P.! A fine job from these boys, I mean men!"

Scooter Malt

THE MONTREAL MIRROR

"Finally, something out of Halifax that isn't whiny, namby-pamby pop.

Four on the floor rock."

- JC

CHART MAGAZINE

"Halifax's Heelwalkers are some nasty mothers that are here to show you the East Coast hasn't gone completely tweeeee, stomping a mudhole in anyone brandishing a fiddle or an accordian. Following in the path of their beloved Stooges, these hellions crank it up, shake their asses, punch it out and get down to the rattlesnake boogie with Stone Cold Steve Austin! What more could you ask for? Everything is turned up well past 11, it's all drenched in tons o' fuzz and wah-wah and there are tunes about porn and pro wrestling. All you gotta do is supply the two-four, man! Tech note: do not listen to this on a measly 'blaster as these guys deserve major wattage behind them."

- The Mouth

THE BIG TAKEOVER

" Good god, this is one monsterous, bone-splintering slab of Detroit rock mayhem! From Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Heelwalkers will pulverize you into whimpering submission with track after track of hammering rock and roll that's about a subtle as a mastodon in a tea room. This band is like a machine with powerhouse, catchy riffs and hard rock rhythm. "Shake My Ass" has a searing lick and takes the cup, but the horn charts of "Crank it Up" (very Stax Volt and not at all wanky ska) make it memorable too."

CARBON 14

"When the Heelwalkers decided on this idea for their cover photo, (they're lined up a la the Stooges on their first record) they were obviously trying to strike a visual chord with music fans who would notice the reference. It sure worked! We were all over this when it first came in and it did not disappoint when played the first time. The Nova Scotians manage to wear their influences fairly obviously on their collective sleeves but still set themselves apart from the pack by writing rocking, original songs and playing the hell out of them - a feat worthy of note since a lot of bands can't. Listening to this you can tell that the Heelwalkers totally give it up live."

- Leslie Goldman

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