Groundhogs – Split

Groundhogs – Split

Released in 1971, Split is one of the defining albums from British blues-rock power trio the Groundhogs, capturing the band at their most adventurous, intense and sonically unconventional. Building on the success of Thank Christ for the Bomb, the group pushed their blues foundations into heavier, more experimental territory, creating a record that sits at the crossroads of British blues-rock, psychedelic rock and early progressive rock.

Led by guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Tony T.S. McPhee, alongside bassist Pete Cruickshank and drummer Ken Pustelnik, the Groundhogs developed a distinctive sound built around muscular guitar riffs, rumbling bass, forceful drumming and McPhee's inventive approach to guitar tone. Rather than relying on conventional blues structures, Split explores tension, dissonance and shifting musical moods, giving the album an unsettling, unpredictable character that remains compelling decades later.

The original album's first side is devoted to the four-part title suite, an extended musical journey that moves between blues-based passages, heavy riffs and increasingly experimental guitar textures. McPhee's playing is the central attraction, ranging from expressive blues phrasing to distorted, abrasive sounds that push the band's power-trio format in unexpected directions. The suite reflects the more exploratory side of the British underground rock scene in the early 1970s, when musicians were stretching established blues and rock forms into something heavier and less conventional.

The second side opens with Cherry Red, one of the Groundhogs' best-known recordings. Driven by a tough, fuzz-laden guitar sound and a powerful rhythm section, it remains a standout example of the band's raw, riff-heavy approach to blues-rock. A Year In The Life offers a change of pace, while Junkman returns to the album's stranger, more abrasive territory. The closing Groundhog brings the record back to its blues roots, reflecting the band's longstanding connection to the music of John Lee Hooker.

Recorded at De Lane Lea Studios in London in November 1970 and produced by McPhee, Split was released on Liberty Records in 1971. The album reached No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart, confirming the band's position among the leading British blues-rock acts of the period. Its combination of heavy guitar work, psychedelic experimentation and uncompromising blues foundations has helped it retain its appeal among fans of vintage hard rock, progressive blues and early heavy rock.

For listeners exploring the roots of heavy, guitar-driven music, Split offers a fascinating snapshot of a British trio pushing beyond traditional blues conventions without losing the raw energy at the heart of their sound. It is an essential title to discover in the Groundhogs' catalogue and a rewarding choice for collectors and enthusiasts of early-1970s British rock.

Tracklist

Side A
A1. Split-Part One — 4:25
A2. Split-Part Two — 5:10
A3. Split-Part Three — 5:25
A4. Split-Part Four — 5:38

Side B
B1. Cherry Red — 5:40
B2. A Year In The Life — 3:07
B3. Junkman — 4:52
B4. Groundhog — 5:35