Darkfighter is the first new music from Rival Sons since their Grammy-nominated release in 2019. wild roots. Written and recorded largely during the pandemic, the album offered the band a golden opportunity to hone their craft and unique sound on their seventh full-length album since its release in 2009. As soon as you drop the needle you will I can say it was a good time.
Having followed the group since its inception, I was immediately struck by the album’s focus and maturity. It’s easy to pick out the subtle nuances that set Rival Sons apart from the crowd – Jay Buchanan’s distinctive soulful howl, Scott Holiday’s searing guitar theatrics, drummer Mike Miley and bassist Dave Beste’s unfolding foundation, all of which occasionally with one or the other Keyboardist Todd Ögren.
Ögren is indeed given the privilege of playing the opening notes of the album with the heavy, Zeppelin-tinged Hammond intro on the epic opener, “Mirrors”. With every twist, the song increases in impact and blossoms. It is tailor-made for the concert stage. After expanding in all directions musically, the focus shifts to songwriting. And this is where Rival Sons really steps up.
The catchy, sophomoric hook of “Nobody Wants To Die” is merely a loss leader for more polished tracks like “Bird In The Hand” and “Bright Light”. On the latter, Buchanan asserts the melody with jeopardized conviction while the rhythm is anchored before Holiday sets sail with one of his otherworldly solos. “Rapture” gets to the core, a simple ode to, according to Buchanan, “to become what I’m meant to be.” It’s at this point that you start to see how “Rival Sons” goes beyond the retro gimmicks, on that they used to trust so strongly.
The real meat and potatoes from Darkfighter could well be included in the last two of the album’s eight songs. “Horses Breath” is a soulful vamp swimming in psychedelic fuzz and fusion. Once again, Buchanan’s soothing vocals transport the mood into an atmosphere of awe and mysticism. “Darkside” pours through a narrow orifice before exploding into a kaleidoscope of radiance wrapped only in “No more promises to keep…”
As a precursor to what guitar world Dubbed the “New Wave of Classic Rock” by the magazine, it’s time for Rival Sons to shine. While younger bands like Greta Van Fleet and Dirty Honey seem to be garnering more attention in certain parts of the mainstream, they have yet to pull off the same feat Darkfighter. The current state of rock ‘n’ roll and the year on the calendar doesn’t allow a record like this to become a multi-platinum monster. That doesn’t stop it from flexing its muscles, stepping up its delivery, however, and giving fans, young and old, an authentic piece of modern rock ‘n’ roll to frolic and fiddle with. In doing so, it should help put Rival Sons where they belong on the career ladder.
~ Shawn Perry
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