Little did anyone realize the impact Black Sabbath would have on music when they released their eponymous debut in February 1970. That album, especially the title track, would come to define the sound of myriad bands.

Forty-seven years later, the underlying essence of that album lives on in the hard rock trio known as Gudger. Comprised of Aaron Eddleblute (drums/vocals), Derek Eddleblute (guitar) and Neil Tuuri (bass), the Lancaster, Ohio band sonically bludgeoned the crowd at Ace of Cups on Friday night, as the opening act on a four-band bill. And yes, the Eddleblute’s are father and son (Derek and Aaron, respectively).

Aaron Eddleblute (Credit:J. Laicy / Music in Motion Columbus)

Combining elements of blues, heavy metal, acid rock and more, they created a bruising atmosphere of aural destruction that continued the legacy forged all those years ago by Black Sabbath. But to be honest, their sound has more in common with Palm Desert stalwarts Kyuss and Morgantown, West Virginia’s Karma to Burn, than it does to the godfathers of heavy metal.

They began their set with the instrumental Spark It Up, with a slow, melodic groove that had a heaviness to it that was accentuated by Tuuri’s deep bass sound. Without missing a beat, they transitioned directly into the faster pace of Serpent Kisser. Derek’s fingers coaxed timely squeals from his axe that added to the frenetic energy of the tune.

The midtempo groove of Firestorm assaulted our very souls, with Aaron beating the hell out of the skins, all while carrying a staccato beat that was hypnotically making me bob my head in-time with the song.

At the midpoint of their set, they payed homage to the progenitors of heaviness with their cover of Black Sabbath. While they stayed relatively true to the original version, the band did play it at a bit of a slower pace.

Derek Eddleblute (Credit: J. Laicy / Music in Motion Columbus)

Succubus washed over us next, enticing the crowd to move to the rhythm of the trio’s sonic truncheon crashing over their heads. This transitioned right into the uptempo Chemical Warfare, with Aaron’s vocals lashing out with a vengeance like fingers tightening around your neck.

The slower Palm Desert sound that marks the opening bars of 17 Years was overpowered by the fevered pace of Derek’s guitar pumping out heavy riffs, the aural projectiles striking with verve. Just before the climax of the tune, Aaron inquired of the crowd, “Are you ready?”, before the resuming the fast and hard pace to end the song.

The band played a melodic instrumental groove, over which Aaron introduced his father, Derek, and Tuuri to the audience. They transitioned right into their final number, Rise of The Cyclops. With a Kyuss/Karma to Burn vibe emanating from the band, the crowd raised their arms and shook their fists, while chanting “Fight! Fight!” in-time with the trio.

The eight-song set, while short, was never shy of heavy energy that kept the crowd enthralled. I’m looking forward to seeing them in a live setting again, with the hope that it will be a longer set when I do.

Neil Tuuri, Aaron Eddleblute (Credit: J. Laicy / Music in Motion Columbus)

In what has become somewhat of an annoying occurrence at shows I’ve attended at the venue, Aaron’s vocals were buried in the mix. Midway through Black Sabbath, I looked over to the soundboard, only to find the venue’s sound engineer turned away from the board, engrossed in the mobile phone he held in his hands.

This meant that anyone in the crowd not familiar with their music was left guessing as to what he was singing. Is it asking too much of the sound engineer to at least attempt to get a mix that allows the crowd to thoroughly enjoy the bands on the stage? I think not.

Gudger proved they have the chops to open a show for a band such as Karma to Burn, or any other hard rock band that wants to play in Columbus. I’ll be making plans to see them again in the very near future.

Their next show in Columbus is July 1 at Spacebar on N. High St.

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Setlist

1. Spark It Up
2. Serpent Kisser
3. Firestorm
4. Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath cover)
5. Succubus
6. Chemical Warfare
7. 17 Years
8. Rise of The Cyclops

Gudger – Death From Above