RIVAL SONS: HEAD DOWN - CD Review

RIVAL SONS:  HEAD DOWN

Tracklist:
1. Keep On Swinging
2. Wild Animal
3. You Want To
4. Until The Sun Comes
5. Run From Revelation
6. Jordan
7. All The War
8. The Heist
9. Three Fingers
10. Nava
11. Manifest Destiny (Pt. 1)
12. Manifest Destiny (Pt. 2)
13. True

Release Date: 09/18/2012

 

 

When Rival Sons opened for Evanescence (Rock-it-Write~Rival Sons) on October 28, 2011, my first reaction was, “Holy Shit…this band ROCKS!”   Rival Sons is a non-stop, rock-n-roll experience oozing with slink, grit and attitude.  To say I was impressed with this bad-ass band from LA is an understatement; I had to hear more from them.

 

I put my hands on their then current CD, ‘Pressure and Time’ and found the music steeped in rich soul and swampy Blues.  Fusing shades of The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Creedence Clearwater Revival, the CD spun with a vintage sound from the late 60’s/early 70’s that was filled with unbridled energy.  Rival Sons entrenched their style of sound with rowdy swagger and boldness.  It was fresh, exhilarating and all attitude.  Their current CD, HEAD DOWN is even better.

 

The only thing missing from HEAD DOWN are the daisies, lava lamps and heady patchouli, but if you close your eyes and listen – it’s all there – along with peace symbols, bell bottoms and long hair.  HEAD DOWN by Rival Sons is psychedelic, head-bopping blues infused with foot-tapping, body-rocking soul and slicked back with bad ass, fist-pumping rock.

 

Jay Buchanan, Scott Holiday, Mike Miley and Robin Everhart are the quartet that is RIVAL SONS.   For the past year and a half they have been on the road strutting and playing their music and teaching audiences how to groove, and to do it with swagger. They opened for goth rockers, Evanescence then embarked on their own headlining tour of Europe. 

 

In 2011, I-Tunes named them “Best New Act” and just recently (11-13-2012) they were awarded, “Best New Breakthrough Artist of 2012” by Classic Rock Magazine.   Rival Sons are shooting stars, and with sheer tenacity and determination (that won’t quit) they are aiming for the moon and claiming the sun. 

 

Compared widely to Led Zeppelin, Rival Sons got a chance to hob-nob with guitar great, Jimmy Page, who was in attendance at one of their shows in London.  Even the music elite know an amazing group when they see it.   Getting a musical nod from Jimmy Page must’ve been both humbling and euphoric.

 

Jay Buchanan’s voice is stratospheric and exudes confidence and swagger, something rarely seen in bands today.  His vocal prowess rivals that of the great singers:  Plant, Morrison, Mercury and Rodgers.  Jay is the epitome of what a young, rock god should be.

 

Scott Holiday, a serious, dedicated guitarist who’s playing is electrifying.  He’s not Page, Beck, Clapton or Hendrix – he’s Holiday.  Scott takes from the masters and puts his spin to it.  Yes, similarities are there but no blatant rip-offs.  He’s just a fan paying homage to the guitar gods and doing it in his own way -- Holiday style.  Scott’s ability to shred and make notes scream is readily apparent.  As is his softer, acoustic side.  He’s tight but loose.

 

Mike Miley and Robin Everhart hold the rhythm section together and are the battering ram when needed.  Mike's heavy-hitting beat, and the playful ease at the drums, is amazing.  He makes it all look easy, though we know it's not.  Robin's playing is steady, and the glue that holds the Rival Sons sound in sync. Timing is everything - Mike and Robin nail it.

 

Overall, HEAD DOWN is a scintillating, smattering of melodious, cacophony of songs.   Rival Sons is, hands down, the Best New Act/Artist for sure.  This album is a necessity for your musical collection, and when the Sons roll into your town go see them.  This is a band that you “must” see live to truly complete their musical experience.  They are that good! 

 

Rival Sons is a band that knows absolutely no limits, they are balls-to-the-wall rock and roll…HEAD DOWN.

RIVAL SONS WEBSITE:   http://www.rivalsons.com/home/

Music Review also posted here:   BlueBird Reviews

Read the 2011 performance review of the band here:  Rock-it-Write: Rival Sons 10/2011