Review: Rival Sons 'Darkfighter' (hard rock)
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- Опубликовано: 16 июл 2024
- Join Pete Pardo & Davy Gallagher for a review of the new album from US hard rockers Rival Sons, 'Darkfighter'. #rivalsons #darkfighter
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Thanks very much for tuning in folks!Hope you enjoy the album as much as we did
Love your perspective and sense of humor, Davy. Always appreciate your reviews and agree with a lot of your taste. This album is another killer one from Rival Sons!
great job gents. Good review for a good band. I haven't heard the album yet but I am sold. It's on the way
@@iceclimbers22 Thank you very very much that is terribly kind of you to say!
@@ricklabonte4144 Cheers Rick, hope you enjoy it and you can let us know in the group chat!
Great job Davey! I agree they need a live album ASAP.
I was fortunate to see these guys live about 3 weeks ago, before the album was released, so the first time I heard Dark Side was live. Good lord what a tune! They ruled the stage. It was an absolutely incredible show! If you have the chance, you need to go see them. Brilliant show!
I saw them last week Detroit. It was a good show but the opening song Mirrors, Scott’s rig went out and there was about 20 minute delay to fixed that, while in a delay and the crew figuring out, Jay comes out and plays acoustic of shooting Stars. They got that fix they restarted Mirrors and the show went on. Show was amazing Jay is an unbelievable singer. It was my 2nd time seeing them live
Thanks, Davey and Pete, for this co-captain new product review. One of the many bands added to the listening library from watching SoT the last few years. Pre-ordered this album but just received a little bit ago. Great listening and now looking forward to the next album release expected later this year. Thanks, guys, for your time spent discussing the album for those of us who watch.
A pleasure, thanks very much for watching!
10/10 for me just like every other RS record. Can’t wait for Lightbringer in the fall!
Thank you guys, for the rockin’, review !!
All the damn time.
Rival Sons ‘ Darkfighter’, rocks !!
I bought the, CD and record. Love it !
🎤🎸🎵🎹🥁
Life is better with music.
I disagree with David. Michael Miley is an integral piece of this bands sound. There is no way they would sound like they do without Michael Miley on drums. He constructs all of his parts in a masterful way. Beste lays it down like a good bass player should.
I have all of Rival Sons albums. Planning to go out and buy it.
Another great album by RS. Easy 8 - 8.5/10
Just got it, will listen to it later this week. Sounds very promising so far.
4. Or 4.5 out of 5. : can’t beat that. Thx guys 👍💯
Great show as ever. Another classic from the greatest 'new-ish' band out there. All 8 songs are amazing but if I had to pick a favourite it would be ' horses breath'. Roll on lightbringer, I can't wait!! 👍
Rival Sons is a great band.
Got to see them in Buffalo the week before this was released. Pleasant surprise being able to get a copy of the album at the merch table that night. Awesome show,as always,and I agree these songs were even more powerful/dynamic live. These guys really need to release a live cd/dvd. It's gotten to the point now that they'd be skipping alot of great songs due to time constraints. A great problem to have, I suppose,but...a bit dissapointing to fans of their entre body of work not being able to hear certain songs live. I agree with the statement about Beste's bass being too low in the mix. I wouldn't want an overly bassy/muddy mix,but-- you really can't hear enough bass in their albums. That would give the listen just that much more power. In any event...long live Rival Sons! May they rock our world for many moons...thanks for the review,guys. T
I was wondering when you were going to review the new Rival Sons! Nice to see Davey offering his views on the album. I've been playing the hell out of it! I love the way the songs build on this one. No softies!
I think it's good that they're releasing two albums this year, versus releasing one big double album. If 'Darkfighter' is the heavy stuff, 'Lightbringer' would be the lighter stuff. Not that it'll be any less powerful, though. Rival Sons are one of the best modern rock bands out there today!
Great review. Rival Sons are my number 1 fave band along with Earthless. When Darkfighter and Lightbringer finish up this RS cycle in 2025. I hope that RS soet goes back to the Guns Blazing era of Pressure and Time/Head Down/Great Western Valkyrie.
Love the album. One strong contender for album of the year. ❤
Another solid album from the guys. It's brimming with a heady atmosphere, swagger & a good amount of light & shade compliment the songs well. It will be interesting to hear what we get with the follow-up later this year, but i wager it will be a fitting complimentary piece to Darkfighter. I have every faith they will give us another solid piece of work.
Just got the album the other day. Haven't opened it for a spin yet, but based on this review, sounds like it will be spectacular. Will listen to later this week!
Hi Gary! It definitely is a terrific album.
@@tomp8463 Hi Tom! Thanks, I look forward to listening to it tomorrow night and this weekend. Best!
Hey Gary I’ve really enjoyed this album the more I listen to it, experience it live is a must if you haven’t seen them on this tour yet.
@@tylerpatterson4787 I really hope to catch them on their upcoming tour. Saw them on their Valkyrie tour in 2015 and they were excellent then.
It gets better every time I listen.
Same here
brilliant album..good old fashioned album too...incredible
Not there best,but It's got some really good songs on it.
I basically feel the same way...
I was listening to this album at the same time I was watching this review. The album is great. The Led Zeppelin influences are toned down. I hear more of Bruce Springsteen and a bit of British rock of the 90s in this. AND - I actually heard a fadeout in a modern song. The song in question, Bright Light, was for me one of the highlights.
Song bird in the hand reminds me of black Keys a bit
So this is the second review for this new record I’ve watched. I have not jumped into this band yet, although I’ve been following some interviews and reviews on them. Have even seen them live open for Sabbath on The End Tour. Plan to pick this up and go backwards on the Discography abit. Nice review. And BTW I am a fan of GVF so it’s not one or the other to me, newer RNR Bands are a special and important treat!
Thanks for posting. Didn’t know it was out. Definitely going to check it out 👍
I finally got to see them live for the first time two weeks ago; which was 2 days before the record came out. It was indeed the Jay Buchanan show. What a vocalist, what a front man. Impressive. The band dynamics were spectacular live (keyboards intentionally low in the mix). Picking up the new release at the show and listening to on the way home. The songs are very good, but either the production, or the mix lacked the firepower of the identical songs performed live. Possibly this disc is an "early pandemic" recording, that now the material performed live has morphed into more powerful for stage presentation. The record is good on its own merit; but live, whoa... they are not to be missed.
Great team of hosts here.
Great Western Valkyrie will probably always remain the best for me, but looking forward to this latest album and the companion album to follow (I could also imagine it to be more acoustic).
Hope to catch them live in October.
Awesome record. Great all the way through. Great review.
Superb album. Perfect length as well for me - vinyl LP length.
This is my favorite album of 2023 and there was many good ones that year.
I really like this album candidate now for album of the year for me, the more I listen to this album the more I really enjoy it. Can’t wait for Lightbringer later in the year
Hearing you guys talk about how big Rival Sons should be makes me think the same about Alterbridge
100%! I'm continually baffled as to why AB aren't a huge band.
This album is really growing on me. Outside of Mirrors, which I just can't get into, I like the other songs and Horses Breath is amazing. I can't believe almost a year after it was released Nobody Wants to Die still sounds great.
I agree on "Mirrors." I would add "Rapture" to that list, but everything else is great.
Mirrors seems like a rewrite of Pressure & Time with added keyboards and a different guitar tone. 8/10
I heard this album when it was released. I finally was on time for a change. 🤣 I really liked the album. 4.0/5.0. Great review guys.
.., my current guilty pleasure in part 2 (thanks to the recommendation, offered by one of the respective members of "The Hudson Valley Squares") ..
Band: RIVAL SONS
Album: "Darkfighter"
ruclips.net/video/UyXke6WRSK4/видео.htmlsi=y2W_4U1UW3edhRch
.., one of my favorite tracks ..
ruclips.net/video/NdoBim6CNUU/видео.htmlsi=-3r6G7LjjIyemRhX
.., reminiscent a bit of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, King's X, Led Zeppelin .....
I would give it 4 stars as well. The compare and contrast with Lightbringer will be interesting. I came into this two album thing thinking Lightbringer would be 8 songs as well. I was a bit disappointed when I saw the recent track list for it is only 6 songs. I hope it at least crosses the 30-minute mark in total length. If so, I will consider it an 'album'...if it comes in at 25 minutes or something then that is an E.P. in my books.
Awesome album...frickin' awesome. Quite possibly their best for me.
I think we’re getting a live album show … met jay and had to ask lol
If it doesnt happen...we blame you! ;)
Great album again from this great band. Just love them, a lot of variation and strong riffs. 4,5 out of 5 easily.
Davey is spot on about the mix, it's a wonderful record but you cannot hear the bass.
I'll just repeat what I said to an S.O.T. pal a few days ago. While "Darkfighter" doesn't top their last album "Feral Roots", Darkfighter and Dorothy's, "Gifts from the Holy Ghost" are the two best albums released since "Feral Roots" (2019). Barring some miraculous album release still to come this year, "Darkfighter" will be my #1 album of the year. Let's see what the forthcoming "Lightbringer" sounds like later on this year.
Just got it Andy. Will give it a spin later this week. Sounds like I am in for a real treat!
In spite of the seemingly unbeatable Feral Roots and Valkyrie, DARKFIGHTER stands strong in the Rival Sons catalogue.
It will be fun to see the live performance of songs like 'Mirrors' 'Nobody wants to die', 'Bird in Hand', 'Guillotine' and 'Rapture' with the staples.
I havent made my mind up on this album. I like it. But it hasnt hit me hard off the get go. Not like Feral Roots did. It may be more of a slow grower over all. It is more of just comparing it to all the others. On its own still a real good album.
One of those bands I just can't get into. Played the first few songs and skipped 2 of em. Stopped after that. Glad people dig em! Just not my thing.
EDIT
Playing Ferral Roots right now... Damn good. Not afraid to admit when I'm wrong 😆
I love the band, but I can’t seem to get into this latest album for some reason.
They were recently here in Chicago. Was considering going but was feeling ill. 🤧🤒🤢🤮
I thought butch jones was the big rival sons fan ?
I believe this is their less interesting álbum in a long time. They sound so tired, repetitive, and the songs dont have the same energy and power as before. I believe I will recover it after a couple of weeks to see if it makes change my first impression.
I've been a huge fan of Rival Sons since around 2016, but this is the first album from them that isn't doing very much for me. The parts where it's moving from loud and heavy to quiet and mellow just feels out of place and throws you off in my opinion. This album also sees the continued trend of an increasingly mainstream sound coming from these guys. There are definitely some interesting stuff on this album, but I can't say that it reaches the same level of any their earlier albums. Comparing it with Feral Roots, I'd say that it's without a doubt inferior. I think Feral Roots is a perfect example of an album that has a very mainstream sound but is super enjoyable to listen to and original at the same time. I can definitely find enjoyment in listening to Darkfighter, but I find myself much more easily getting bored and questioning some of the artistic decisions they made. I wholeheartedly hope that by making the music more mainstream-friendly they can find some genuine success with their music, and with how underappreciated these guys are it would be hugely deserved. For me personally though, as someone who really enjoys their early stuff, I felt a bit let down by this album.
Here's how I would rank their catalogue as it currently stands:
1. Before the Fire (2009)
2. Great Western Valkyrie (2014)
3. Head Down (2012)
4. Pressure & Time (2011)
5. Feral Roots (2019)
6. Hollow Bones (2016)
7. Darkfighter (2023)
A few other new releases I recently acquired this month (Pete may review these in the coming weeks):
Boys From Heaven/The Descendant - pretty mainstream rock with some catchy tunes
Cry Of Dawn/Anthropocene - pretty good AOR, I believe this is their 2nd album
The Defiants/Drive - I like this one a lot - pretty tasty melodic rock
Lee Small/The Last Man On Earth - on Metalville Records records but not really metal. Their 2nd album overall - the debut Jamaica Inn is killer. Somewhat of a 'supergroup', definitely in that Glenn Hughes supercharged blues/rock lane
Pendragon/North Star - not bad, 4 winners for me, they're still kickin'!
Travis Larson Band/The New Exhibit - many may not know about this one, some really fiery instrumental rock (with lotsa different influences). I like it a lot - their other 3 releases Annica, Shift & Soundmind are also really good. For fans of Satch, Eric Johnson, Kotzen, Paul Gilbert...
Arjen Lucassen's Supersonic Revolution/Golden Age Of Music - some of this was a bit too heavy for me but the more laidback stuff is good
Isobar/Isobar III - as the title suggests their 3rd, posted to Bandcamp. Nice jazzy prog, about as good as II & better than the debut
Godsticks/This Is What A Winner Looks Like - also on Bandcamp (they call it 'ALT-metal'). 3 tracks that're more melodic appealed to me. I actually have 5 other albums by them, this one probably sits around #3 or so overall. Their best are Emergence & Spiral Vendetta
That Travis Larson Band album sounds intriguing. I'll go investigate it... Thanks for the recommendation, Wolf.
@@frank.s.castro If you like fiery instrumental rock with lots of different influences then I think you'll like Travis Larson. To me they haven't put out a bad (or even mediocre) record yet
I’m looking forward to new Gov’t Mule album coming out this Friday
Hey Wolf. Where have you been? There's a rumor going around that you were struck by lightning while you were driving a motorcycle over the edge of a cliff that dropped into the mouth of an active volcano.
@@andymudrock322 Yes that was me - but I survived (due to many years of clean living)! Haven't been getting into the latest SoT series too much so spent that 'extra' time listening to even more music than usual. Go figure...
Greta Van Fleet are playing the bigger venues because they were able to grab a lot of younger fans that Rival Sons didn't get. Not sure why other than GVF got way more press (mostly negative) from the media and their record company but there's no such thing as bad publicity as you know. You wouldn't even know Rival Sons are a major label band based on how little press and publicity they get. Just shows you that being on a major label ain't what it used to be. They don't have nearly the amount of money and budget to spend on you like they used to back in the glory days of MTV and radio (pre internet.)
@@terrencesclassicrockcorner GVF lost steam with the last album but they are headlining arenas this summer so it apparently didnt matter.
GVF have been getting the big corporate music industry HYPE push for the past few years. They get magazine covers and features (Rolling Stone, Classic Rock, etc); appearances on TV (Saturday Night Live), etc. The industry suits assume that the public is thirsting desperately for a New Zepplelin.....so they present the terribly unoriginal GVF, hoping that it will rake in any remaining cash dollars that the old dried-up Zeppelin udder might be able to dribble out. Meanwhile highly talented and more innovative groups such as Rival Sons toil in relative obscurity. Another of life's injustices.
@@terrencesclassicrockcorner That the blatantly Zeppelinesque GVF is still able to get away with that schtick boggles the mind. Rival Sons on the other hand, though somewhat Zeppelin-influenced, have combined that with many other musical styles and have created their own sound. But don't count on the music industry / media to make the right picks and support originality.....the corporate HYPE machine does love their poseurs.
@@garyh.238 I like about 5 of their songs - mostly from Black Smoke Rising - but overall don't quite 'get' them
@@wolf1977 Personally I avoid them due to their outright aping of Led Zep. For me, that completely undercuts anything they do. There is a huge hype machine behind them - typical overblown puff pieces by the corporate music industry / media conglomerate.
Don't know why, this Band never hit me.
Please don't tell me you're a Greta VanFleet fan? 🤔
@@garyserdoz6915 oh no
They never hit me because they are doing a very old sound and style and my personal tastes have progressed and changed over the past few decades.
@@Chaz4543 I like Retro Sound but not every Band. They are not bad but they don't touch me.
@@theomoor8513 Well the new album doesnt really have the hooks.
Good new album, 5 solid tracks. Had it for less than a full week though so that could change...For me in their (very good) discography maybe equal to Head Down & just a bit better than Feral Roots, not quite as good as their best Great Western Valkyrie. Fave tracks (so far) are probably "Mirrors" & "Darkside". Good band...
RS are the best hard rock band going. Forget Greta Van Fleet. Forget Wolfgang VH, the only band even in their ballpark is Foo Fighters and RS is outdoing them here.
This album didn't hit me like Feral Roots did, but more I listen to it more I like it. Half of the songs are amazing and catchier and the other are very solid songs. One of the best albums of the year for sure and I can't wait to listen to Lightbringer.