By DJ Monk
Most people have experienced their fair share of bad marriages – we here at ÜRHQ have four of them behind us… but, this particular marriage of five like-minded hard-drinkin’ hard-rollin’ rock ‘n’ brawlers outta Boston may well be one made in musical heaven, certainly if the pedigree of this, their debut album, is anything by which to judge.
Opener ‘Diablo’ comes roaring out of the speakers like a runaway juggernaut with a concrete block placed on the accelerator pedal, ramming its way into your dirty ol’ rock ‘n’ roll soul with equal amounts of aplomb and intent, its massive riff accompanied by a catchier than Coronavirus melody and a hook big enough to land a great white. ‘Old School Stereo’ neatly summarizes the ethos of both the band and their songs, as the latter are just exactly what you would have heard blasting from any self-respecting rocker’s boombox as they terrified the neighbours with the latest radio-friendly rock anthems outta LA’s strip. Think Autograph’s ‘Turn Up The Radio’ covered by Tesla, with added balls to the wall attitude, and you’re sort of in the right territory.
While the emphasis is very much on the hard rock side of their sound, there is enough sleaze goin’ on to make you tousle your hair and slide up to that there jukebox and turn up the volume just another notch or three. Big crunching riffs underpin earworm choruses that just resonate around your aural cortexes and refuse to leave for days afterwards: you know those songs that you wake up singing to yourself and then can’t get out of your head for the rest of the day? Well, the likes of the aforementioned ‘Old School Stereo’, ‘Ready Aim Fire’, ‘Ms Outrageous’ (yes, she is that contagious and will get you sticky) and ‘Tail Chaser’ have just that very effect!
The musicianship throughout is exemplary: the rhythm section of Michael Delaney and Todd Boisvert are tighter than a Ballymena man’s wallet, and the twin guitars of Mike Fitz and Ian Haggerty intertwine with obviously practised precision, while at the same time capturing every ounce of sweaty emotion taken out on their instruments, while Jon P’s gnarly, lascivious vocals are perfect for the both the sound and the subject material.
If rock ‘n’ roll is your ‘Gateway Drug’ to a good time, then this most definitely is the soundtrack for you. Just dial up the link below to connect with your favourite dealer and have those readies – and the beers – waiting when he knocks at your door, as, with not weak link in the 12-song chain, this one of the best debut albums I have heard in a very long time and will be a hard one to beat. Boston may well, at long last, have been delivered of a band worthy to pick up where it’s most famous rock ‘n’ rollers imminently will be leaving off.
- ‘Bad Marriage’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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