Okay, maybe not, but I was intensely glad to be able to get my hands on a copy of the first Fuzzorama Records release (fuzz CD001), Fuzzsplit of the Century, featuring Truckfighters and Firestone. Neither band is stranger to these parts, Truckfighters having released one of my favorite albums of last year in Mania, and Firestone‘s Stonebeliever EP having been covered in a previous Buried Treasure, but to get them both on this split CD from 2003, when Truckfighters were really just getting going and Firestone was on their way out, was too much for me to resist. Fortunately, Freebird Records had a copy on the (relatively) cheap and I grabbed it from their mailorder.

In a way, it’s a “what you see is what you get”-type scenario. While the “of the Century” is as debatable as any claim of anything being the greatest anything ever is, I won’t argue it’s a fantastic bit of fuzz both bands grow from out their Orange amps. We already know Oskar Cedermalm is the link between the groups (he played guitar in Firestone and handles bass and vocals in Truckfighters), but what’s more interesting about Fuzzsplit of the Century is precisely what was alluded to in the paragraph above: hearing Truckfighters in their beginnings and what could probably be called the most realized version of Firestone before their dissolution.

As someone who encountered Truckfighters first with the Gravity X album, their more nascent approach here is less assured, and, though it carries the seeds that in context can be seen as what would later become Mania‘s progressive bent, less established. They were a young band in 2003. Firestone, on the other hand, had their mission clear from the outset and so sound like the tighter unit. Of course, it’s worth saying that both bands were fuzzy as all hell at this stage in their careers.

It was a kind of curiosity purchase, bought basically so I could hear the roots of one of Sweden’s top riffing outfits, and though Fuzzsplit of the Century certainly isn’t their best group of songs, it’s a fascinating go-through nonetheless, and worth investigation for anyone who’s been mesmerized by their work since. And since Firestone remains a mystery to me (they released several EPs that, so far, seem impossible to find), having five more tracks of them at their best is definitely a win.

NOTE: It may seem like there are a lot of Buried Treasure posts on this site lately. That’s true. There’s a lot of good stuff out there and very little feels better than talking about albums that kick ass. If you’re looking to kick off a dialogue or discussion about music, saying, “Hey, this rules,” isn’t a bad way to go.

To that end, say hi to Firestone. I did recently, after encountering their name a while back when they put out Fuzzsplit of the Century with Truckfighters on Fuzzorama. After finally picking up their self-released 2002 EP, Stonebeliever, and coming to realize just how closely related the two bands are, I’m pretty glad I did. It’s Swedish fuzz rock of the hairiest order, and although it’s just four songs long, there are enough riffs to dive into and groove on for a week. If you started your Truckfighters adventure with Gravity X and haven’t heard Firestone yet, consider this your formal invite.

Of course, they’re broken up. My copy came via All that is Heavy and I’m pretty sure they have some more, so although Stonebeliever was self-released, there are some available for purchasing. Those who would download from blogs or other sundry avenues, I’m sure you can do that too. Forgive me for not checking.

If all else fails, two out of the four Stonebeliever tracks are on Firestone‘s MySpace, including the über-fuzz of “Experience ’79,” which is probably your best place to start. If you’re like me and you prefer the blind purchase method of going into it without knowing what you’re getting, take my word for it, you’re safe with these four cuts. Like Truckfighters and younger Dozer, Firestone do Sweden proud. Hail the northern fuzz.