Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats – Meet The Meatbats

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Of course most people know the name Chad Smith as the drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers, but that’s meaningless here (as is most of their formulaic music). Equally inconsequential is his recent stint behind the kit with new supergroup Chickenfoot. Of far greater importance is the fact that he’s also been the go-to drummer for rock legend Glenn Hughes for a number of years and here, along with Hughes band mates Jeff Kollman (guitar) and Ed Roth (keyboards, also Impellitteri), the funk and jazz influences of Hughes’ music are the most prominent. Born from jam sessions for Hughes’ albums the Meatbats play complex instrumental funk rock, which is not going to be to everyone’s tastes, but is nevertheless incredibly well written and played. Smith himself is technically outstanding throughout, but rarely taking an solo spots, leaving such segments mostly to Kollman and Roth, who’s interplay can at times be astonishing. The challenge for any instrumental album is holding listeners interest with just the right combination of intricacy and melody. Meet The Meatbats accomplishes this perfectly and is probably going to be the best instrumental album released all year. Don’t be surprised if it’s nominated in the 2010 Grammy Awards.

Written by Andy Lye
More: Albums, Instrumental, Non-metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Rock, Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats