Album Review: Ruff Majik – Elektrik Ram (Mongrel Records)

Carl Fisher 2 min read

Elektrik Ram is the latest album from South Africa’s megalithic four-piece Ruff Majik. Due to be released on April 28th, 2023, via Mongrel Records.

Hotly anticipated because Ruff Majik have built up a formidable reputation over their years. A reputation for delivering a bevy of creative and energetic rock music. Combining elements of noise, punk, sludge, and more. Covered with a thick layer of fuzz, while being undeniably infectious. This is what Ruff Majik do and Elektrik Ram exemplifies this with great aplomb.

Kicking things off with vigour and the blend of catchy weirdness that makes Ruff Majik such a memorable band to listen to. The pairing of Hillbilly Fight Song and She’s Still a Goth are delightfully cut from the same cloth but inexplicably different too. You’ll know with these two tracks if this album is going to be for you or not.

Although, there’s so much more Ruff Majik brilliance to come. The group taking it up a notch with the intangible melodic twists of Mourning Wood, the groovy and danceable pop-infusion of Rave to the Grave, the trippy turns of Delirium Tremors, and the blast of funky fun that is Cement Brain. So much variety and so much inventiveness from this band.

Which, happily, continues with the punchy straight-up body shaker and head-banger that is the title track. Before lovable bassy fuzz dominates the excellent Queen of the Gorgons, A Song About Drugs (with a Clever Title) takes the music to the weirdest place yet, and Ruff Majik hit a monumentally temperamental and dramatic high with Shangrilah Inc.

It really is one of the most unique albums heard all year, so far.

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Which does mean no-one should be too surprised by the clean melodies, soft singing, and chilled out sound of Chemically Humanized. A charming closer and the cherry on top of this exceptionally interesting release. Ruff Majik continuing to prove why they are in a league of their own and one of the brightest prospects of the South African rock scene.

Ruff Majik – Elektrik Ram Track Listing:

1. Hillbilly Fight Song
2. She’s Still a Goth
3. Mourning Wood
4. Rave to the Grave
5. Delirium Tremors
6. Cement Brain
7. Elektrik Ram
8. Queen of the Gorgons
9. A Song About Drugs (with a Clever Title)
10. Shangrilah Inc.
11. Chemically Humanized




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Ruff Majik – Elektrik Ram (Mongrel Records)
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