Gozu are a funny band to pin down. You hear the opening riff of “Corinthian Leatherface” and expect a fairly straightforward dose of Boston stoner rock, then Marc Gaffney starts singing and the song takes on an almost poppy character. Those harmonies are so far removed from the usual gruff delivery that I sometimes wonder whether the guitars and vocals are competing for space. They aren’t, really. It’s just an unusual combination, and one that gives Gozu a personality beyond their guitar tone.
There’s a strong grunge streak running through VI, particularly in the singing, but the band doesn’t sound stuck in the nineties. The rhythm section has a loose, bluesy feel, and Doug Sherman’s guitar work can get surprisingly busy without turning the songs into showcases for technical ability. “Midnight Express” is probably my favourite example of the less obvious side of the album: a slow, weary piece that doesn’t need a massive riff every thirty seconds to keep its grip. “Banacek”, meanwhile, gets straight to the point and makes a convincing case for the more energetic side of Gozu.
The album gets stranger when it slows down further. “Corner Lariat” comes perilously close to a heavy-rock power ballad, but Gaffney’s performance keeps it from becoming syrupy. I wouldn’t have minded another song exploring that territory. Instead, some of the heavier material feels stretched thin. “Killer Khan” has a riff that promises more than the song delivers, while “They Did Know Karate” takes too long to get where it needs to go. I like a band that lets a song breathe, but breathing and simply hanging around aren’t quite the same thing.
“Gimme the Lute” has more character than its title might suggest, especially when the arrangement opens up and the guitars take an unexpected turn. Gozu sound comfortable with these little diversions. They can be heavy without being humourless, and melodic without cleaning up all the grit. The trouble is that VI doesn’t always distinguish between an interesting detour and an idea that has run out of road. “Corvette Summer” also leaves the album on a less satisfying note than I’d hoped.
Still, I’d rather hear Gozu follow their peculiar instincts than sand off the edges to make a more consistent record. VI has a few songs I can imagine revisiting for years, even if the whole album doesn’t quite hold together. The best moments have real character; the weaker ones sound like a band that could have used another edit.
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Released by Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records on May 15th, 2026
