This album isn’t technically new. It was released in March of 2007, but it’s stateside release is forthcoming, so it’s new to us yanks. For those unfamiliar with The ‘Fudge, they formed in the 60′s, played a proto-metal style akin to Deep Purple and are primarily known for their covers. They are very, very good. Their self-titled debut is a wonderful collection of earnest and interesting interpretations of songs admired by the band. It features two of the mere handful of tolerable Beatles covers out there, as well as a gutting cover of “You Keep Me Hanging On” that would prove to be the group’s biggest hit. (Originally by The Supremes, Vanilla Fudge’s “YKMHO” in no way displaces the original, it’s a separate, nearly-as-great entity.)

Despite my affection for the band’s earlier material, I greeted the news of their newly-recorded collection of Led Zepplin covers with a furrowed brow and mocking grin. Forty-years past their brief formative period, new material by Vanilla Fudge is unlikely to set the world on fire. It turns out that’s too bad, because Out Through The In Door happens to be very good.

One of the reasons the album works so well is Vanilla Fudge and Led Zepplin were both playing in styles evolved from more basic blues rock. Consequently, the redressing of classic Zepplin tunes in the garb of Fudge’s sludgey hard rock sounds natural. More importantly, Fudge still sound great. It’s shocking that, forty years on, these guys sound more or less the same. Mark Stein in particular deserves praise for having a voice that’s aged so well. A few modern production flourishes aside, someone could have convinced me the album was thirty years older than it actually is.

Stylistically, the album isn’t bringing anything to the table that hasn’t been around for decades. If it was a collection of original songs in the same vein, I can’t imagine it holding my interest, but that’s not what Vanilla Fudge are about. As it stands, this album is a pleasant contribution from one of rock’s more engaging curios. Check it out.

Couldn’t find anything off the new album. Enjoy some classic Fudge.