Originally released in 1973 on
MCA,
Budgie's third record,
Never Turn Your Back on a Friend, was another slab of the band's signature plodding
metal sound. Although they were never more than a cult band in the U.S.,
Budgie's popularity flourished in their native England, yet their influence was eventually felt by many notable American bands (
Metallica,
Soundgarden,
Alice in Chains, etc.). The mammoth riffs created by guitarist
Tony Bourge are definitely on par with
Black Sabbath riff master
Tony Iommi, while vocalist/bassist
Burke Shelley's voice is a cross between
Robert Plant and early
Geddy Lee. Drummers came and went (this would be original member
Ray Phillips' last recording), but you'd never guess there would be a defection soon, judging from the tightness and interplay displayed on this album. One of their best-known tracks,
"Breadfan" (later covered by
Metallica), kicks off the album with rapid, almost
speed metal, while the epic
"Parents" closes the album sans the
heavy metal thunder (the band chooses a more mid-paced and acoustic sound). The group also became notorious for coming up with profound (yet lighthearted) song titles, such as
"In the Grip of a Tyrefitter's Hand" and
"You're the Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk." Recommended to anyone who finds solace in the
metal forefathers (
Sabbath,
Zep,
Hendrix, etc.). ~ Greg Prato
