Four years is a pretty long break between albums for a band that usually puts out an album each or every other year. Rival Sons has always been a creative bunch when it comes to song writing so when it was time for the band to put out new music the new-written songs had piled up and the band was thinking about releasing a double album. Thankfully they decided not to. So instead it was decided to put out the first half batch of songs and wait a few months to release the next batch. A good move in my book. There are quite a few bands that have put out double albums recently and in all honesty, it’s kinda hard to digest. With only eight songs to swallow it should be a lot easier to embrace and hopefully Rival Sons has delivered yet another killer effort.
Opening number “Mirrors” opens with a pipe organ that brings on a bit of a church vibe before it bursts loose as a groovy Classic Rock stomper on a crunchy riff and a heavy rhythm section 70’s style with a thunderous bass that sounds as if it wants to beat us up. It’s gritty, dirty, beefy and edgy with a distinct live-feel where every melody throws its hooks in you. A spot on tune and opener. The first single “Nobody Wants To Die” is an uptempo rocker on a slamming rhythm, very in-your-face and a rough-edged guitar riff that hits you right between the eyes. It’s an energetic banger with intense melodies and unescapable hooks where the chorus grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. Awesome.
Another single, “Bird In The Hand” is a bit more melody-driven with pop-hooks thrown out all over the place. It’s a bit more radio-friendly but not in a hit-searching way. The Beatles influenced verses contrasts nicely to the 70’s Classic Rock edges which flows into a brilliant sing-along chorus that’s backed up by groovy rock-shuffle rhythm. A stellar number indeed. Also a bit more pop-laden, “Bright Light” is carried by some swinging bass-lines and rhythmic beats even though it comes in mid tempo pace. The acoustic guitars that blends perfectly with the electric ditto brings on a late 60’s vibe and the vocal-melodies hits right where the should with a stunning refrain on top. Very good.
The single “Rapture” that opens the b-side if you do vinyl is slower and heavier and holds a dark mood with aggressive and attitude laden guitars and even though the verses are somewhat held-back the rhythm-section treats us with a big, juicy groove. It’s a soulful slow burner on the verge of balladry with soaring arrangements where acoustic and electric guitars rubs shoulders with captivating vocal melodies. Great stuff. “Guillotine” is slower in pace yet still groovy and organic where acoustic guitars interacts with some fuzzy riffage and a heavy beat and the down-beat contrasting sections creates a dramatic dynamic. It’s an edgy piece with a punchy main melody and a live-friendly vibe. Very good.
On a ballsier and more robust outlook “Horses Breath” is a pumping affair, very in-your-face with its hard-hitting rhythm section and kidney-punching riffage. The crunchy edges contrasts nicely with the somewhat spacey atmosphere. It’s a powerhouse tune, heavy with a direct 70’s Classic Rock structure and a very memorable refrain. Great stuff. Just like “Horses Breath”, the title-track “Darkfighter” clocks in at six minutes. It opens with a sludgy intro but takes a more sparse path with a dark, low-key and dreamy ambience carried by a juicy organ but it gets heavier with more fuzzy riffing and a heavier outlook that’s interrupted by acoustic passages. It’s a stellar track that manages to stick easily without being on a commercial route. Very good.
Usually I would complain over an album with only eight songs and call the band cheap but that won’t happen here. Firstly because I know that at least eight more will be released later on but also because it’s exactly what this record needed – and what I needed. I think all us fans needed no more than eight tracks. Now we can sink our teeth into the songs in one bite and really taste them – something in all honesty I didn’t have to do because the whole bunch stuck right from hello. The album sounds like Rival Sons all the way but at the same time it’s an unpredictable record – you really don’t know where they will go with the next track. I applaud that. But I mostly applaud that Rival Sons has once again released a stellar record that makes me look forward to the next one.
8/10
More Rival Sons reviews:
Head Down
Great Western Valkyrie
Hollow Bones
Feral Roots
Tracklist:
1. Mirrors
2. Nobody Wants To Die
3. Bird In The Hand
4. Bright Light
5. Rapture
6. Guillotine
7. Horses Breath
8. Darkside
CD & Festival reviews 