Steppenwolf is one of those bands you rarely hear discussed as a major player in rock history, but man does it feel like they’re everywhere in modern roock. The psychedelic rock, fuzzy distorted guitars, and rollicking percussion section in their self-titled debut just screams 2000’s garage rock revival and probably played a larger role in all the rock bands that followed in their footsteps than even bands themselves realize. There’s so much to appreciate here– John Kay’s powerful frontman vocals that are filled with natural grit, Rushton Moreve’s thumping bass lines, and Jerry Edmonton’s drums which are perfectly mixed and sound thick and massive in a very modern sounding sort of production way.
Steppenwolf would be lost in the sands of time without the staying power of the racous “Born To Be Wild” (which undoubtedly has earned its staying power), but there’s a ton more here to love if you’re a fan of rock in general, and classic rock specifically. This album is a vibe and holds up incredibly well 55 years after its release.
Standout Songs: “Born To Be Wild”, “Sookie, Sookie”, “The Pusher”
