Feral Roots by Rival Sons (2019)
Title:
Cool title. Sounds kinda mysterious and menacing, plus the album has a back-to-your-roots down home theme that makes it extremely appropriate.
Album Art:
Like the title, it’s cool and vaguely creepy. Leaves you with a lot of questions that you want to get answered by listening to the record.
Overall:
After 2016’s more stripped-down Hollow Bones, there is something about Feral Roots that feels like a big, loud, statement of reclaimed purpose for modern-rock gods Rival Sons. This was their first record after signing to Low Country Sound and they clearly wanted to let everyone know that Rival Sons is (are?) back baby! This is the band getting back to their (feral) roots with massive-sounding riffs and their classic blues-based noise, but combining that with some of the more delicate, acoustic-inspired sounds of the Hollow Bones Era. The result is diverse, dynamic album that has a ton of different sounds and personalities while always remaining 100% Rival Sons.
Track By Track:
1. Do Your Worst
Do Your Worst claims the distinction of being one of the criminally few Rival Sons songs that I regularly hear on the radio and for damn good reason – this thing is definition of an earworm. That call-and-response of the vocals and guitar is addictive and I defy you to give this one a listen and not find yourself humming it for the rest of the day. This song also gives you a taste of the many delicious ear snacks to be had later on this record with those absolutely colossal riffs and a down-home gospel influence. What we’re not getting on this opener is the full power of Jay Buchanan’s vocal fireworks – he holds back a little here, but that high note on “fever” followed by a broken-elevator drop down to his low range lets you know that he’s about to do a whole lot more. The mini drum solo Mr. Miley sneaks in at the two-and-a-half minute mark is a neat little cherry on top too.
2. Sugar on the Bone
Add to: playlist of songs I would dance to if I were a stripper (and could actually dance). The guitar is just filthy on this track, I love that gritty feel and the little squeals of callouses contacting the strings put the listener right up close and personal with all of it. I’ve been all in on this guitar sound since I first heard the song, but upon re-listening to this record for this review I realized that the drums are also doing a lot of heavy lifting here. I was going to write that this song is a bit lighter lyrically than some of the other tracks on the record, but considering how hot and heavy every word of this is that feels like categorically incorrect wording.
3. Back In The Woods
Song three kicks off with one of many steering-wheel-drum-along worthy solos on the record and then brings everything to a screeching halt for Mr. Buchanan to deliver that opening lyric. The song actually references a speeding car, which is perfect because to me this is ideal chase-scene music. The verses, in particular, sound so frantic that it gets your pulse racing like the car in the lyrics and there’s a more precise, sharper guitar sound that contributes to the on-edge feel of the track.
4. Look Away
After the high-octane electricity of the first three tracks, Look Away starts off with a completely different acoustic-y vibe. It almost feels like we’ve made it back those primordial woods we’ve been chasing and can now take a breath for a second. We’re not chilling out for long though, because this song has an incredibly tense, exciting build up that left me biting my nails by about a minute and a half in. The release of that tension once the drums crash back in kicks your ass right back to reality and then we still get a dreamy, floaty guitar solo and a really cool bridge into that chorus. I don’t think this is one that I gave a lot of attention back when the album came out, but I’m kicking myself now because there is a lot of good stuff going on here.
5. Feral Roots
Another acoustic intro for Feral Roots, but this one stays a little more stripped-down and folky the whole way through – which works well with the themes of whispering trees and ancient magic in the lyrics. What strikes me about this song is just how distinct every single note and every single word sounds. The vocal and the guitar blend so beautifully on this one too, the guitar almost sounds like the second voice in a duet. That gorgeous sound carries that track to almost six-minute run time and it doesn’t feel too long.
6. Too Bad
And we are right back to that buzzsaw guitar that we all know and love! Too Bad is a searing post-breakup disdainfest over another monstrous riff, those lyrics are spit out with enough feeling that I kind of hope Mr. Buchanan had a good therapist to process this one with. The way he says “on your hip” should resonate with anyone who’s ever had to turn a formerly-beloved away when they try to crawl back. It finishes off with a guitar solo as raw and messy as the breakup itself and then a great final scream. If I have one critique it might be that this one does go on a little bit long, but it’s not an egregious timing issue.
7. Stood By Me
This one feels like the whole album encapsulated, it’s a statement of purpose and that statement is that Rival Sons are back and better than ever. Jay Buchanan’s voice sounds like it’s a long journey to get there though and, in that rasp, like he really went though it along the way. That raspy voice stands out even more against the contrast of a smoother, cleaner, backing sound. Maybe I’m just a narcissist, but it feels like thanks to the fans for sticking around too – and hey this is my blog and I’m allowed to be one so you’re welcome guys.
8. Imperial Joy
This is going to turn into one of those “drink every time I write the word riff” type reviews, but good lord does Mr. Holiday know how to write one. This is one is so heavy and instead of becoming another voice the guitar is used as a percussive force for this one. Fittingly for a song with “Imperial” in its title, this song feels epic and expansive from the many smaller “acts” within the larger track to the gospel-esque backing vocals.
9. All Directions
Oh, this is a pretty one. All Directions has a gorgeous, orchestrally melancholic sound like (yet again) an old folk ballad or gospel tune turned up to eleven on every level. It’s the kind of song you can picture a crowd swaying side-to-side with their hands raised in supplication. Lyrically, it’s equally pretty with lines like “holding love in all directions” and I like the nebulous way you could listen to it as either a prayer or a love ballad. I might swing a little towards prayer considering I’m pretty sure those yowls at the end are the sound of Jay Buchanan being raptured. Don’t worry if this all sounds pretty sugar-heavy, guitarist Scott Holiday steps in with some chunky chords to cut the sweetness and remind us all that this is, in fact, a rock record.
10. End of Forever
The second break-up song featured on Feral Roots and we’re significantly less over this one if the bitter, cutting lyrics are anything to go by. There’s so much great tension and contrast in the vocals and in the guitar here. There are some classic Rival Sons BARs (Big-Ass Riffs) alongside quieter, more delicate parts that sound like ripples on still water. The vocals too, range from sweet and light to rage-fueled howls. Under all that the drums and especially the base do a great job of holding the song structure together.
11. Shooting Stars
Shooting Stars finally does Mr. Buchanan’s clearly been longing to do throughout the entire album and goes Full Gospel Choir. This is such a great ending to an album, it feels like the final song in a Broadway musical where the whole cast comes back out on stage for the big wrap-up number. It ends the album with a hopeful (not to mention endlessly clap-along-able) message and you know we could all use some hope and good vibes in the world right now.