Flaming Sideburns

An ill-advised deviation from the expected, Back to the Grave compiles throwaway Flaming Sideburns tracks over the past half-decade. Never a smart idea if it wasn’t good enough when it was recorded, this still sees the light of day, the first output for these Swedes since 2001. It’s clearly "we’re still here” filler that features not a band typically known for their soul-inspired whoop and wail — the perfect link between the showmanship of the Hives and the primal, pelvic thrust of Hellacopters — but a less confident group struggling between ’60s retro revivalists and funk act. Disappointing, the album is an unnerving departure from the aforementioned, drenched in typical, predictable Steppenwolf blues rock, pepped-up Spanish flamenco that the Doors would find to be an abomination, and a generally distasteful laidback groove. No upbeat, adrenaline-pumping barnburners appear throughout this 45-minute horror show, whatsoever. Back to the Grave indeed. They should never have crawled out.