The US hard rock four piece returned with their sophomore album last week, but with a bit of a catch: it’s only physical copies for now. I like it as a callback to the not-so-distant past, and the band have gathered such momentum over the last couple of years at home and in the Uk that it’ll surely work for them. I’ve heard very good things and like the odd track I’ve checked out, so can’t wait to sink my teeth into this!
I was not at all disappointed, this is an AWESOME album! Every track is pretty awesome and the release is packed full of highlights, from the opener to epic southern ballad ‘Steve McQueen’ to ‘Sellout City’ to ‘Need a Little Rain’. There really isn’t a bad song on the album though, and I could rotate any track on it into those highlights on any given day! Everyone in the band are very talented when it comes to their instruments and songwriting, it transporting me back in time with somehow the perfect blend of old-school southern rock and a grungy edge. Like Pearl Jam meats Skynyrd meets Hootie & The Blowfish, and not least because vocalist efders as the Eddie Vedder/Scott Stapp vocal style. It’s an interesting combination for sure, and one that feels pretty unique and new, making for a very interesting, enjoyable listen, and one that went by far too quickly despite it being 13 tracks long. I love it, and that’s clear when the only slight complaint I can think of is that there could have been a slightly more up-beat track somewhere in the back few, just to keep the energy up. But yeah, this is an excellent album that I’d recommend to anyone, not just fans of southern or hard rock. It’s an easy 9.5/10, and the band have a huge new fan in me!
