Tuesday 10 June 2014

Rival Sons - Great Western Valkyrie

Unrivaled 

Rival Sons have no rivals in the retro rock hierarchy, occupying the summit with this fine latest release to ironically challenge even the excellence of their previous Head Down. To say it is the same again is a kind of tautology if we accept the 'retro' tag, and this band continues to do enough that is distinctive to actually test such labeling, but equally, the homages are still there, loudly: like third Secret which re-presents Led Zep - but really Robert Plant here - so gloriously, and also closer Destination On Course [and I don't mean the angelic choir with imaginary attendant stadium fag lighters lit] with the other tribute this time to Jimmy Page in its guitar experimentation.

What sets this apart and above just echo is a song like Good Things that champions carpe diem within the fortuity of the disaster that could befall us all, embraced in the simple symmetry of the line good things will happen/bad things will happen too, and a little darker in enjoy it right now because you never know when it's gonna end, Jay Buchanan singing the aphorism with such pretty emotion it almost sounds hopeful.

Whatever disaster lurks within the yin yang, this is a joyous celebration of rock to keep you thrilled until.


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