RIVAL SONS
''HEAD ON''
SEPTEMBER 17 2012
56:20
1. Keep On Swinging /3:59
2. Wild Animal /3:27
3. You Want to /4:15
4. Until the Sun Comes /2:58
5. Run from Revelation /4:14
6. Jordan /6:18
7. All the Way /5:10
8. The Heist /3:13
9. Three Fingers /3:17
10. Nava /2:01
11. Manifest Destiny, Pt. 1 /8:20
12. Manifest Destiny, Pt. 2 /4:24
13. True /4:44
Scott Holiday/Guitar
Robin Everhart/Bass
Mike Miley/Drums
Jay Buchanan/Vocals
REVIEW
by Jon O'Brien
California blues-rock quartet Rival Sons bemoan the lack of danger in today's rock & roll generation on their Facebook page, a slightly hypocritical viewpoint considering that their third studio album, Head Down, could have been recorded at any point over the last 40 years. However, their clichéd soundbites aside, there's much to enjoy on this typically ballsy and no-nonsense follow-up to 2011 breakthrough Pressure & Time. Led Zeppelin fans disappointed by their recent denials of a reunion could do worse than check out the blistering opener "Keep on Swinging" and raucous "You Want To" to get their fix of Page-inspired classic rock riffs and Plant-esque wails. Their proggy tendencies also come to fruition on the sprawling "Manifest Destiny," a psychedelic two-part suite about the slaughter of Native Americans containing an epic four-minute solo from Scott Holiday. But with Grammy-nominated producer Dave Cobb (Shooter Jennings) at the helm, their trademark swagger is now matched by a sense of adventure. "Wild Animal" sees frontman Jay Buchanan tone down his force-of-nature tones on a surprisingly chirpy slice of '60s West Coast pop, likewise on the hushed balladry of "Jordan," a vulnerable reflection on death that eventually builds up into a soaring "With a Little Help from My Friends" finale. "All the Way," a cheeky spoken-sung tale about a man's whiskey-based exploits, is backed by an infectious Motown groove, while there's even a Tim Buckley-ish acoustic folk ballad with the falsetto-led closer "True." Despite the band's "things ain't what they used to be" claims, Head Down is about as edgy as Status Quo ("Until the Sun Comes" could actually be mistaken for Francis Rossi and company's three-chord rock). But nevertheless, it's a record that proves Rival Sons do what they do very well.
BIOGRAPHY
by Gregory Heaney
Based out of sunny Los Angeles, California, Rival Sons evoke the bluesy rock of bands like Led Zeppelin and the Black Crowes. Formed in 2008, the quartet of Scott Holiday (guitar), Robin Everhart (bass), Mike Miley (drums), and Jay Buchanan (vocals) captures that massively huge, guitar-driven classic rock sound, with rock-solid drumming and a riff-oriented approach to songwriting backing up Buchanan’s soaring vocals. Shortly after forming, the band self-released its debut, Before the Fire, in 2009. The quartet got some exposure when its song “Tell Me Something” was used in an ad campaign for Indy car racing, and the following year the band opened for some high-profile acts, including hard rock legends Alice Cooper and AC/DC. That same year, Rival Sons made the unlikely jump to extreme metal label Earache, who signed the band after coming across their music online. In 2011, the band released its follow-up album (and first physical release), Pressure & Time. The band stuck with the classic rock riffs and blues influenced sound on their third record Head Down that was released in 2012.
''HEAD ON''
SEPTEMBER 17 2012
56:20
1. Keep On Swinging /3:59
2. Wild Animal /3:27
3. You Want to /4:15
4. Until the Sun Comes /2:58
5. Run from Revelation /4:14
6. Jordan /6:18
7. All the Way /5:10
8. The Heist /3:13
9. Three Fingers /3:17
10. Nava /2:01
11. Manifest Destiny, Pt. 1 /8:20
12. Manifest Destiny, Pt. 2 /4:24
13. True /4:44
Scott Holiday/Guitar
Robin Everhart/Bass
Mike Miley/Drums
Jay Buchanan/Vocals
REVIEW
by Jon O'Brien
California blues-rock quartet Rival Sons bemoan the lack of danger in today's rock & roll generation on their Facebook page, a slightly hypocritical viewpoint considering that their third studio album, Head Down, could have been recorded at any point over the last 40 years. However, their clichéd soundbites aside, there's much to enjoy on this typically ballsy and no-nonsense follow-up to 2011 breakthrough Pressure & Time. Led Zeppelin fans disappointed by their recent denials of a reunion could do worse than check out the blistering opener "Keep on Swinging" and raucous "You Want To" to get their fix of Page-inspired classic rock riffs and Plant-esque wails. Their proggy tendencies also come to fruition on the sprawling "Manifest Destiny," a psychedelic two-part suite about the slaughter of Native Americans containing an epic four-minute solo from Scott Holiday. But with Grammy-nominated producer Dave Cobb (Shooter Jennings) at the helm, their trademark swagger is now matched by a sense of adventure. "Wild Animal" sees frontman Jay Buchanan tone down his force-of-nature tones on a surprisingly chirpy slice of '60s West Coast pop, likewise on the hushed balladry of "Jordan," a vulnerable reflection on death that eventually builds up into a soaring "With a Little Help from My Friends" finale. "All the Way," a cheeky spoken-sung tale about a man's whiskey-based exploits, is backed by an infectious Motown groove, while there's even a Tim Buckley-ish acoustic folk ballad with the falsetto-led closer "True." Despite the band's "things ain't what they used to be" claims, Head Down is about as edgy as Status Quo ("Until the Sun Comes" could actually be mistaken for Francis Rossi and company's three-chord rock). But nevertheless, it's a record that proves Rival Sons do what they do very well.
BIOGRAPHY
by Gregory Heaney
Based out of sunny Los Angeles, California, Rival Sons evoke the bluesy rock of bands like Led Zeppelin and the Black Crowes. Formed in 2008, the quartet of Scott Holiday (guitar), Robin Everhart (bass), Mike Miley (drums), and Jay Buchanan (vocals) captures that massively huge, guitar-driven classic rock sound, with rock-solid drumming and a riff-oriented approach to songwriting backing up Buchanan’s soaring vocals. Shortly after forming, the band self-released its debut, Before the Fire, in 2009. The quartet got some exposure when its song “Tell Me Something” was used in an ad campaign for Indy car racing, and the following year the band opened for some high-profile acts, including hard rock legends Alice Cooper and AC/DC. That same year, Rival Sons made the unlikely jump to extreme metal label Earache, who signed the band after coming across their music online. In 2011, the band released its follow-up album (and first physical release), Pressure & Time. The band stuck with the classic rock riffs and blues influenced sound on their third record Head Down that was released in 2012.
