By: Richard Maw
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 07/06/2019
Label: Ripple Music
This is definitely one of the best
albums of the year and its vitality is
astounding for a band of this vintage. Superlative heavy rock for 2019.
“Tinnitus
The Night” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1. Along For The Ride
2. Shake
3. Fat Rats
4. Final Phase
5. Peel
6. Knock Em All Down
7. Find What You Need
8. Under The Devil’s Thumb
9. Midazolam
10. Silence
2. Shake
3. Fat Rats
4. Final Phase
5. Peel
6. Knock Em All Down
7. Find What You Need
8. Under The Devil’s Thumb
9. Midazolam
10. Silence
The Review:
Roadsaw return after an eight
year break from releasing full length records and boy does this just JUMP out
of the speakers! Kind of like an US East Coast Orange Goblin, these noise
purveyors deal in the finest and heaviest stoner rock. Massive riffs, drums,
bass and sounds coalesce to turn in powerhouse performances on opener “Along For The Ride” and “Shake”, The band slows to a greasy
groove on “Fat Rats” and don't put a
foot wrong from there.
With
ten tracks and neatly fitting onto one side of a TDK 90min cassette (should
that be your preferred medium) this feels like a throwback to the band's first
heyday (95-2000) and channels the power of their 2007 release “Rawk
N Roll”. I am ashamed to say that I missed out on their self titled
2011 effort, but in my defence I did catch them live at Desertfest a few years
ago- and they ripped the Underworld a new one with a tight and energetic set of
all-American rock and roll- and gave away a three track EP on CD which I still
have.
“Final Phase” is a speedball of energy
with “Peel” then dropping the pace
back down to a laid back cruise. It's a fairly extended loose track that marks
the mid point of this deadly record. For side two, you get “Knock Em All Down” first, with a big
groove and grunge like feel. “Find What
You Need” is pure rock and roll enjoyment- killer riffs and hooks.
“Under The Devil's Thumb” is just as good- grooves
for days- with swagger like Monster Magnet in their prime. For a band with
25 years under their belt, Roadsaw sound hungry and hopefully this album
will see another flurry of activity from them and lead to more releases and
shows. The albums second languid set piece is “Midazolam”; a longer playing time and the band spreads their wings
to take in some epic riffage and quiet loud dynamics. As the band close things
with “Silence”, they utilise
acoustic guitars for a rather melancholy ending to this excellent record.
This
is definitely one of the best albums I've heard this year and its vitality is
astounding for a band of this vintage. Superlative heavy rock for 2019. Welcome
back!
“Tinnitus
The Night”
is available HERE
