Album Review: Bigelf – ‘Hex’

By Jeff Swindoll Nov 8, 2007, 15:14 GMT

Bigelf is a rock band consisting of Damon Fox (vocals, organ, mellotron, synthesizers, piano, and guitar), Ace Mark (lead, slide, and rhythm guitars), Duffy Snowhill (bass), and Froth (drums and gong). 

From the cover you might expect something mystical, along the lines of Lord of the Rings, but their inner photo has them standing in what appears to be a cemetery.  The album starts off with the tune “Madhatter” which has lead singer Fox (I assume in the top hat in the inner photo) maniacally cackling that put me in the mind of Ozzy Osbourne.  “Bats in the Belfry II” put me in the mind of Queensryche for some reason and “Bats in the Belfry I” quotes the James Bond theme. 

“Rock & Roll Contract” sounded similar to like it came off of a darker ‘Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ album.  “Burning Bridges” did have some good harpsichord and organ riffs.  I did enjoy what I heard just seemed to harken back to some other bands on some of the tracks. 

This was somewhat nostalgic and appreciative, to my untrained ear, and the tracks only seemed to remind me of them although they had different lyrics.  There also seemed to be a Pink Floyd vibe throughout the album.  That sense of nostalgia made me enjoy the album but others might not take it that way.