an unpretentious hard rock record, relying on strong songs and powerful performances.
Malcolm Dome, Classic Rock
As good a rock album as you could hope to hear.
Alastair Riddell, Kerrang!
Maybe they are now about to blow up a storm …
Malcolm Dome, Classic Rock
a long-lost and quite wonderful doom-tinged hard rock band
Dave Ling, Classic Rock
rightful heirs to the Led Zep/Bad Company bluesrock crown
Pete Sargeant, Blues Matters
A band to be proud of and pose-free..
Pete Sargeant, Tangent
Pete French carries the reunited band’s Cream-meets-Zeppelin grooves with the swagger of a young(er) Mick Jagger or Robert Plant.
Caren Gibson, Kerrang!
The current incarnation…doesn’t let the legend down
Malcolm Dome , Classic Rock
LEAF HOUND - MELLOBOAT 2008 CONCERT REVIEW
2008-03-10 at The 21st Annivesary Schizoid Boat - Silja Symphony
Review by Harald "BigRedMachine" Bjervamoen
Going on stage as the last band, at 2.00 AM on a two day boat trip across the Baltic Sea is not an easy task, but Leaf Hound grit their teeth and played a blinder.
They kicked off the proceedings with "One Hundred And Five Degrees", a classic, heavy blues number. The first part of the concert was dominated by songs from their new album, "Unleashed". A personal favourite, "The Man With the Moon In Him" elevated the concert from good to excellent.
Leaf Hound's rhythm section, Jimmy Rowland (drums) and Ed Pearson (bass) is tight, powerful and solid as a rock, giving plenty of room for guitarist Luke Rayner to show off his skills. Peter French, bandleader, vocalist and sole survivor from the original line-up is a perfect, gentleman-like front man. Despite some minor throat problems his vocal delivery was just about faultless.
Opeth's keyboard player Per Wiberg were invited on stage for a lengthy version of "Breakthrough", the classic Atomic Rooster number. Sporting a headband, he looked like the late and great Vincent Crane. A highlight indeed, only surpassed by a magnificent version of "Growers Of Mushroom", on which the band whipped up a storm with some incredibly heavy and psychedelic jamming.
Leaf Hound's concert was a fitting finale to a great and progressive musical weekend.
Verdict 4,5/5
LEAF HOUND - UNLEASHED
Finally, after 37 years, legendary cult band Leaf Hound has released a new album "Unleashed".
The 2007 incarnation of the band may only contain one of the original members, vocalist Peter French, but he is easily the most important. This time he surrounds himself with hotshot new comer Luke Rayner (guitars), Jimmy Rowland (drums) and Ed Pearson (bass).
The bands legendary debut album "Growers of Mushrooms" was a intense, bluesy and rowdy affair, but the new album has a more classic early 70's British hard rock feel to it.
Peter French (still) has a very powerful voice and I rank him, together with Paul Rodgers, as the best of the still active "old" brigade of rock vocalists.
That he and the new band is a capable and tight unit is demonstrated right from the start with the controlled yet hard rocking “One Hundred And Five Degrees” and “Barricades”. On the outstanding third track, “The Man With the Moon in Him”, Luke Rayner is given room to show his guitar skills with a scorching and wah-wah drenched solo. The mood changes for the moody and surging “Nickels and Dimes”. After this its back to blues-rocking mood again with “Stop Look And Listen”, “Overtime” and “Too many Rock’n Roll Times”. The tempo and mood changes once again for the almost Black Crowes sounding “Deception”
There is not one duff track on “Unleashed”, but if I have to pick a favourite it has to be the “heavy” reworking of the Atomic Rooster classic “Breakthrough” that ends the album.
The production, done by French and Rayner themselves is quite simply superb.
It’s not “Growers of Mushrooms ” part II but a mighty fine album well worth your Nickels and Dimes.
BigRedMachine, Rockprog.com (Sweden)
LEAF HOUND - UNLEASHED
Leaf Hound's debut, Growers Of Mushroom, was roundly ignored upon its release in 1970. It took a while for people for people to realise just how good it was, by which time copies were changing hands for a grand. Sole remaining original member Pete French was a singer on a par with the likes of Paul Rodgers and David Coverdale , and saw stints with Cactus and Atomic Rooster; but now back with a new band - rather than looking back - their timeless classic rock finds them soulful, heartfelt and perhaps surprisingly, Mr. French sounding better than a man of his age should. As good a rock album as you could hope to hear.
4/5
Alastaire Riddell, Kerrang!
LEAF HOUND - UNLEASHED
Nearly 40 years after their cult debut, 1970's proto-stoner masterpiece Growers Of Mushroom, Britain's Leaf Hound finally release their second album. To say that the planet's been dramatically overhauled and renovated in that time is an understatement.
So, has the wait been worthwhile? Well, Unleashed is a classy album that manages to be retro in an Atomic Rooster/Budgie style, while also keeping pace with modern day heroes like Orange Goblin and Firebird. Only vocalist Pete French remains from the original line-up, yet Leaf Hound have retained an enviable 1970s authenticity and spirit.
This is un unpretentious hard rock record, relying on strong songs and powerful performances. Admirable retro qualities indeed.
7/10
Malcolm Dome, Classic Rock
LEAF HOUND - UNLEASHED
The mighty Leaf Hound finally joins the growing numbers of legendary semi-known bands of yore such as Cactus, Blue Cheer and Sir Lord Baltimore and releases its anticipated comeback album - Unleashed.
While vocalist Pete French is the only surviving member of the same ensemble who recorded the rightfully praised Growers of Mushroom, new comers Luke Rayner , Jimmy Rowland and Ed Pearson are more than capable to deliver to goods. And while French understandably cannot reach the high notes as he did some 30 something years ago screaming like a banshee, he is still better than 95% of the vocalists that inhabit this planet.
Now, if you were waiting for Growers of Mushroom part II, you'd probably have to wait some more. Unleashed opens with 3 straight ahead hard rock tunes, "Barricades" being the best of the three. "The Man With the Moon in Him" breaks mid way into a somewhat "Stoner" moment followed by a gilmour-like solo. The riffs are good and catchy, quite heavy, and fans of mid-70's hard rock will be very pleased so far. You can definitely hear more Ducks in Flight (Pete French's solo album from 78) than Growers of Mushroom so far.
"Nickles and Dimes" might just be my favorite track and sounds like something Robert Plant might have recorded, with French delivers his best performance in the album.
We finally get to hear the old Leaf Hound sound in "Too Many Rock'n'Roll Nights" - This is old school Blues-Rock of the highest order. God, I missed that.
The biggest surprise here is the album closer - a "metalized" version of Atomic Rooster's "Breakthrough", on which French originally sang. I wont spoil you the fun by detailing it. I just know Vincent Crane smiling in his grave and says: "Godammit, thats exactly how the song should have always been. Well done boys!"
Well done indeed.
Ra'anan Chelled, StonerRock.com
LEAF HOUND - UNLEASHED
36 years between albums - it's a workrate that makes even Def Leppard look adventurous. But indeed it has been that long since the mysterious Leaf Hound recorded the celebrated 'Growers Of Mushroom' album that set E-bay alight when fans started exchanging up to four-figure sums for the original vinyl version on the Decca label. In keeping with a band who are linked with the likes of Free, Atomic Rooster, Cactus and Foghat, the new Leaf Hound (only singer Peter French remains from the original line-up) sound not a million miles away from the old Leaf Hound. Proto-stoner rock, steeped in blues and rocking hard, the band know what they're about and stick resolutely to that framework. It doesn't quite match the days of yore, but it's far better than most people could have hoped for.
7/10
Jerry Ewing, Metal Hammer
LEAF HOUND AT SWEDEN ROCK 2006
Leaf Hound , has only one album under their belt.
"Growers Of Mushrooms" was released as far back as 1971. Over the years the album has become a collectors item and the band has gained cult status among the lovers of heavy, 70's blues rock.
Their set on Sweden Rock 2006 was naturally built around that album. Founder member, vocalist Peter French is the only original member in the line up. Usually this is not a good sign, but Leaf Hound is an exception to that rule. The band is supertight and manages to make the old songs sound even better than the originals. This is largely due to the guitars provided by new hotshot Luke Rayner. His guitar playing is very 70's, with plenty of solos(with feeling), often with his foot firmly planted on the wah wah pedal.
Peter French, one of my favourite vocalists (also with Atomic Rooster and Cactus) is plain awesome. He is perfectly trimmed, very cool looking and has a huge smile on his face. It's almost ironic that Peter French, who sounds better than ever, is playing on Sweden Rock's smallest stage, while colleagues like Ian Gillan and David Coverdale, who has lost a lot of their former vocal power are headlining this years festival.
One of Leaf Hounds new songs "Too many Rock 'n’ Roll Times" which has surfaced on the reissue of "Growers Of Mushrooms", is one of the evenings highlights. What on record is a fine but pretty conventional heavy blues number, is stretched out to a massive killer of a song in the live format.
Another surprise highlight in the set, is Atomic Rooster's "Breakthrough". The song was dedicated to the late and great Vincent Crane.
Leaf Hound's version is simply brilliant, with standout and emotional vocals from Peter French. It's a crying shame that a vocalist of this calibre hasn't received more success.
This was my favourite concert at Sweden Rock Festival 2006 and the band are welcome back for concerts anytime.
Verdict : 5/5
Harald "BigRedMachine" Bjervamoen, Rockprog.com
LEAF HOUND - GROWERS OF MUSHROOM, Reissue
Incredible as it may seem, an original copy of this record is worth nearly £1000. Released in 1971, and blatantly ignored at the time, Growers Of Mushroom achieved godlike status within the stoner crew 15 years later. Available again, it’s weathered the years remarkably well.
The songs bristle with a naïve brio that drew heavily from the late 1960’s – think Led Zep, Blue Cheer and Syd-era Floyd – but there’s an undeniable charm that crosses the years.
Today, only frontman Pete French remains from this line-up. However, the current incarnation give us a taste of things to come with bonus track Too Many Rock’n’Roll Times – it doesn’t let the legend down.
Malcolm Dome, Classic Rock
LEAF HOUND AT THE BORDERLINE, LONDON
Leaf Hound are in a strange situation. Word of mouth has turned them into a cult band. But while it’s their 1971 album Growers Of Mushroom that started the current avalanche of acclaim, no one seems bothered that frontman Pete French is the only one from those days who remains. The reason no one cares is because the current line up is more than capable of giving flesh to the band’s skeletal 70s underground rock; guitarist Luke Rayner is a real discovery. And how many people saw the original Leaf Hound anyway?
French is suffering from flu tonight, but strides purposefully through a set tinctured with songs that make it obvious why so many young doom and stoner bands hold them in such high regard.
Leaf Hound never had a first wind in the 70s. Maybe they are now about to blow up a storm.
Malcolm Dome, Classic Rock
Yesterday involved a trip to the Borderline, one of my fave London venues, for the return of Leaf Hound - a long-lost and quite wonderful doom-tinged hard rock band back from the dead after splitting up in 1971. The ever-improving Pig Iron warmed up the crowd nicely, before Pete French (who later fronted Atomic Rooster) and his revised line-up let rip with some enjoyable brand new material, intermingled with vintage gems like 'Freelance Friend', 'Stray' and a version of 'Growers Of Mushroom' that tempted Cathedral's Lee Dorrian to the front for a freak-out.
Dave Ling, daveling.co.uk
Possibly the toughest sounding band on the circuit now and not needing earbleeding volume to come across are the present version of Leafhound. At their borderline showcase and with Repertoire in Germany re-releasing the classic and deservedly legendary ‘Growers Of Mushroom’ album with extra new songs, Pete French their suave lead singer had a bad throat but soldiered on with great skill and confidence. In fact you’d be hard pushed to find a front man this good anywhere and as his writing develops and with Paul Rodgers wasting his talent on a poor songbook, THIS is the band that are rightful heirs to the Led Zep/Bad Company bluesrock crown. The London crowd are wowed by the show, the setlist is just right, the playing fluid and forceful and glory be! guitar solos that go somewhere and enhance the song rather than be an excuse to show off. A band to be proud of and pose-free..
Pete Sargeant, Tangent
Stepping inside the Borderline tonight is like stepping through the space/time continuum. Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to the 70s. Starring! Leaf Hound. Featuring! Tight jeans and crushed velvet shirts. Former Atomic Rooster frontman Pete French, despite fighting the flu, carries the reunited band’s Cream-meets-Zeppelin grooves with the swagger of a young(er) Mick Jagger or Robert Plant.
Caren Gibson, Kerrang!
More uplifting were the revival of Pete French’s Richmond area band Leaf Hound whose punchy live show included the Groundhogs-ish ‘Growers Of Mushroom’ number from their first incarnation. French is a genuinely nice guy and an ideal frontman for this Zep/Bad Company lean trio and we can only wish them well foe eschewing all gimmicks and posing and just delivering hard-edged blues based music. Watch for the name as it is hoped they will be playing and recording.
Pete Sargeant, Blues Matters
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