Want a detailed history of classic 70’s rock?
Well there are plenty of books discussing the issue at some length. But far more excitingly – and briefly for that matter – the Rival Sons’ latest album ‘Great Western Valkyrie‘ manages to sum up the whole lot in just 10 tracks.
Here, Rival Sons manage to encapsulate everything that was once great about rock music. It’s big, dumb and full of…well innuendos, with monolithic riffs, vocals that jump between soulful cries and raucous screams and a humongous rhythm section to back it all up. The album almost sounds like a ‘best of rock’ compilation, the tracks encapsulating all the great and good from the era.
Throughout it is instilled with the spirit of a time when all that mattered was the music, and for Rival Sons that still seems to be so. The sound is always reminiscent of something; Jay Buchanan’s vocals very much akin to Bad Company era Paul Rodgers, while Scott Holiday dishes out some stunning riffs very reminiscent Joe Perry at his heavy and funky 70s best.
The overall sound is that Bad Company soul and Aerosmith sleaze, but with Led Zeppelin’s muscle. And it’s the ghost of Led Zeppelin that truly inhabits the record, with so many nods to them throughout. From the stunning new single ‘Open My Eyes‘ and the drums of ‘When The Levee Breaks’, to‘Belle Starr‘ and their take on ‘Achilles Last Stand‘. And this is just for starters.
‘Where I’ve Been‘ is so similar to Free’s ‘Don’t Say You Love Me‘ that it almost feels like an alternate take; beautiful and undiscovered until now. Then there’s ‘Destination On Course‘, a collision between Led Zep’s ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You‘ and Pink Floyd’s ‘Echoes‘ which should in every way be a travesty, but instead is a wonderfully constructed closer.
Still it continues, with an unexpected ‘Train Kept A-Rollin’ volt-face mid-record on ‘Play The Fool‘, where the band quite literally pull the tempo rug from under you and run off laughing in the other direction. Or other moments where they take just the smallest bits and bobs and put them together seemingly merely to see what happens. As with ‘Secret‘; sounding like David Bowie’s ‘Jean Genie‘ entangled with ‘How Many More Times‘.
The record is so magpie-ish that, in less capable hands, it would become almost a parody, some sub-Spinal Tap mess. But that is never the case. The sheer excitement, energy and honesty in the music is enough, but is by no means all. On top of all this hero worship, Rival Sons have still found time to be ambitious and head in new directions. There are touches of garage rock on the amazing opener ‘Electric Man‘ and the brilliant ‘Good Things‘, and even some baroque psychedelic touches on tracks like ‘Rich and the Poor‘ and ‘Good Luck‘ – all among the most successful moments on the album.
They could have easily become a one trick pony, but instead Rival Sons have reached deep, taking on not only a plethora of influences but also a staggering amount of fresh impetus. In an attempt to try and take their muscular rock to the next level, the ambition and confidence comes across time and time again.
There are no half-measures, every track is intended to destroy the audience. Absolutely no time is wasted on pointless, or less than adequate tracks.
This really is all killer, no filler.
About the best review of the album I have read so far. And I have read many, many reviews of this album. Thanks for supporting great rock and roll with great writing!