In short, I could describe the full work of the California band! I have been gathering for this review for rather a long time due to the fact that Rival Sons is 1 of the most crucial bands for me.
I know there are lovers of their music among our readers too, so I wanted to give myself any time to perceive to the latest American release. It's been over a period since the premiere, and I can't halt listening, and this is the 4th RS album in turn, which completely absorbed me.
The beginnings of the formation date back to 2006, erstwhile the charismatic vocalist Jay Buchanan began performing in a solo task with his friend, drummer Michael Miley, however, it was not until 2009, erstwhile the guitarist and composer Scott vacation joined them on a permanent basis. There are these mixes of characters and talents, which in combination become a complete, “self-propelled” device – that was the case for “Rival Sons”. They recorded their debut in the company of 2 another musicians, but later the band's current lineup became clear erstwhile the bass guitar entered Dave Beste, proving to be an excellent ‘acquirement’.
All gentlemen come from Long Beach, California, but their informal “base” and the town of recordings became Nashville, Tennessee. No wonder, due to the fact that it has been the cradle of American sound for almost 100 years. Curiosity: Nashville is the place where the most musicians per square kilometer perform! The number of recording studios, performance clubs and people active in the country manufacture is almost indeterminate! Live music comes from all corner, all diner, club or studio! It's hard to imagine a better place for people making music rooted in the confederate American tradition, and that's how Rivale plays! This is simply a stone full of mouth, but in all sound you can hear bows towards roots – blues, country, rock`n`roll, soul, folk or even gospel. It could not have been otherwise – Jay (born 1975) sang in the gospel choir from an early age, grew up surrounded by music and the atmosphere of Woodstock 69, and what not to say about this degenerate generation (a subject for a separate column), they besides created truly superb music, but let's go back to Rival Sons.
This is where readers should be explained – why my fascination with Rivals and why have they become specified an crucial squad for me? As I mentioned before on the occasion of another review, erstwhile it comes to amusement music, I am an absolute Americanphile and, more specifically, a fanatic of the South of the USA. I love blues, country, rock’n’roll – along with all the treatments and varieties of these species. Of course, I besides like classical stone from “Led Zeppelin”, “Deep Purple”, “Black Sabbath”, “The Doors”, “The Allman Brothers Band”, “Lynyrd Skynyrd”, “Rush”, “Aerosmith” and many others. This species had ups and downs, but it has existed continuously since the 1960s and even developed. present (luckily for me) he is experiencing a kind of revival, which musically has rolled the wheel, which in this case is not a charge.
In fresh years, there have been quite a few fresh bands that go back to the stone tradition, but not trying to figure out something different, and showing full knowing for the kind and its roots. stone itself, as a species, is the fruit that grows in the rock’n’roll tree, and the roots are blues and country. Among people who don't know the source, I frequently hear that “Rival Sons” play as much as “Led Zeppelin” or another classics just add something from each other. You can usage this shortcut, of course, but that's not how it looks.
If I were to visualize this relation as rapidly as I could, I would put it this way: do you want to play like “Led Zeppelin” or “Lynyrd Skynyrd”? Start listening and playing Muddy Watters, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Ray Charles, James Brown, John Cash and Elvis PresleyOh, my God! scope to the roots, realize them and love them! There would be no Jimmy Page without B.B. King or Eric Clapton!
The "Rival Sons" gentlemen realize what they hear on each album! Of course, it is simply a racial ROCK, full of overpowered sounds, fast pace changes, loud guitar riffs, loud vocals and energetic rhythmic section parties, but each of their tracks can be brought to a minimum – only play acoustic guitar and sing. Then it becomes a blues/country/folk song. This is not a coincidence – musical fascinations and formations in this climate are obvious, all the more so due to the fact that gentlemen are no longer young, but the mediate generation born in the 1970s. They've been soaking it since birth!
Besides, they bring any added value – they are not just the makers of this climate, like many another bands. Rivales compose truly amazing compositions, and in this theoretically "scored" genre they inactive surprise with solutions. They are besides outstanding and effective musicians, which gives an incredible live effect! In 2018, with a friend, a guitarist, we went to Gdynia for a performance of Americans, which was held in the no longer existing club ear. Rivala's performance made specified an impression on us, that on the same night (returning from Gdynia) we decided to gather a lineup of musicians and play classical rock! That's how my band – Bastard Brothers was formed, and since then, we have not left any Rivala performance in Poland. But let's decision on to the fresh album.
It is the group's seventh studio album and second released by 1 of the world's largest evidence labels in Atlantic Records with the participation of Low Country Sound. This time, we had to wait for the album for 4 years, but the bar was hung up highly advanced by the earlier disc, "Feral Roots", which was just amazing! To be honest, I even had any concerns and thoughts like, "What else can they do to keep the level even?" The Americans have decided to take the subject very seriously – not only have they created the concept-album, but they have already announced that this year there will be a continuation of the title "LIGHTBRINGER"
The album was promoted (as the first single) by the song and the clip "Nobody Wants To Die". RS music videos are a separate substance at all – they are all well-made and work perfectly with the music and text of each song. This time the image brings to head associations with films Quentin Tarantino, is in a "sensational-criminal" climate, with a large bow towards the 1970s – I recommend. erstwhile the single came out, I knew they did it again! I was right, after 4 years we received another perfect album – different from the others, and at the same time so “rival”. The seventh album, and the gentlemen (still turning the wheel towards the roots) do not eat their own tail only consistently make the kind without being afraid of experiments, especially with sound.
“Darkfighter” is simply a evidence I urge to perceive to “from to” in the order the artists proposed due to the fact that the full is simply a very circumstantial concept. The title of the album (in free translation, the warrior of darkness) perfectly reflects the musical and lyrical climate that appears to us on the fresh disc RS. Yes, it is by far the darkest evidence in the performance of musicians – full of disturbing harmony and melody. I don't know why, but my first associations (perhaps due to the melodic layer) went to Liverpool, I thought – that would be the angry Beatles. The full disc has little than 40 minutes, but that's enough. 8 tracks that drive the disc highly interestingly – the beginning is "Mirrors" with an intro on Hammond's organs, which brings to head the gospel climates. Tod Ogren is simply a keyboardist who joined the lineup on the album “Great Western Valkyrie” (2016), that is, the time erstwhile I met the band and immediately fell in love with their music! However, the number does not follow this route, due to the fact that in the improvement we get an energetic riff with a specific, "cut" drum bit and here I gotta stop.
drummer Mike Miley is an outstanding musician who builds rhythm for each part in a distinctive way mixing elements of blues, swing, jazz and even folk rhythms. It's all playing with an incredible "cook" that makes the full thing a strong, stone character. frequently compared is the kind of playing to John Bonham ("Led Zeppelin") and rightly so, but this is absolutely not a charge – Bonzo was 1 of the most prominent drummers in the past of amusement music, and I am able to defend this thesis in the longest discussion! However, Miley is 1 of a kind and I love his vigilance, which has become reliable live.
The next 2 tracks are singles: "Nobody wants to die" and "Bird In The Hand" – here we have a full spectrum of guitar sounds – from banjo-like acoustics to heavy overpowered electrical guitars. Scott Holiday, besides called Mr. Fuzzlord, has this alias for a reason. He is known for loving the sound of fuzz, which is simply a characteristic guitar effect (strong, "buzzing" overstory) and uses many varieties of specified sound. Interestingly, any of the guitar effects are performed by Mr.Fuzzlord Polak from Ożarow Mazowiecki – Mr. Jacek Kowalski or Karaluch Custom!
“Bright Light” and “Rapture” are specified shots for me that erstwhile I first heard those songs it virtually bricked me up! This is the quintessence of what I love about stone music – populity, imagination, plenty of space and “breath”! Beautiful compositions, very melodic (especially “Bright Light”) – minimalist, and at the same time, where it is essential to flow to the listener with a large sound! The lyrics of both tracks are very individual for Jay (vocal) and sung highly emotionally. Buchanan is in my opinion the best vocalist in the alleged fresh wave of classical rock. Not only endowed with an excellent voice apparatus and capabilities, which he full exploits, with a beautiful timbre, but also, in fact, with a large musical sensitivity and superb sense of interpretation! In combination with deep spirituality (of which his lyrics frequently tell) this gives an incredible effect Jay's a real shaman! With his talent and sensitivity, I think he could sing the contents of the detergent label, and the listeners would be profoundly moved.
"Guillotine" and "Horses Breath" are very diverse works, utilizing a full spectrum of colours and arrangements – they bring rhythmic and sounding changes. Many vocal effects were imposed in the production. If I had to make any allegation about this album, although in the end the substance is cosmetic, however, I think that Jay's vocals are a small besides over-reached. The leader has a natural "piach and drive" in his voice, so he does not request specified a "booster", but it is most likely only my impression, due to the fact that among the people I know, as well as in authoritative reviews, it is the vocal production that is judged the highest.
"Darkside" – the best track on the album – is the perfect ending to this part of the story. At the same time, I think this is most likely the best song by Buchanan from all RS albums. The part begins with a strong riff, which is rapidly muted, and in its place enters a hypnotizing part of the acoustic guitar and here creates real magic... The way the voice is conducted, how freely Jay moves between strong advanced parties (hitting about falsettes) and lower ones (which I never suspected of him) is simply a real championship! The part ends in specified a way that we can only guess at the re-use of this riff for which I very much number in the continuation of the record. I can't wait to hear "Darkside" live, and there will be specified an chance this year!
In autumn – 5 and 6 November, the Californians return to Poland with 2 concerts – Warsaw, the Barn Club (5 IX) and Poznań Music Club B17 (6 IX). To say that I highly urge these performances to you is to say nothing... On RS I was 4 times and these were the best concerts I had to experience (and a small was). I don't want to be accused of sacrilege, but 1 day my friend utilized a metaphor that I think is full appropriate and justified – Rivala concerts are simply “rock services”! There are always long, intense, varied tensions, and thanks to the wonderful charism of all musicians their performances affect the full audience! You can't not participate.
In 2019, in the Barn, there was a set, and what happened there was beyond everyone's wildest expectations. At the end of the performance (unless as a second encore) they performed “Shooting The Stars” and together with Jay sang virtually the full hall! It was like a spiritual experience – an detonation of music and pure joy! Importantly, the band's members are in this together with listeners – virtually burning on phase – this cannot be faked, so if you want to participate in stone rituals, the concerts "Rival Sons" in Poland are the best chance for this, the more so that they will advance specified an excellent album!
Bartosz Iwicki
photo public domain
Think Poland, No. 29-30 (16-23.07.2023)
