For the past few months, I’ve been getting Los Angeles rockers RIVAL SONS tossed in front of me constantly. It seems every few years we get someone that’s going to usher in a new era of 60’s/70’s rock stylings (WOLFMOTHER, anyone?) and it just never seems to happen. There’s some bands that are great at what they do, but the movement just isn’t there. While I still don’t see a massive revival coming any time soon, RIVAL SONS have created a hell of an album with the release of PRESSURE & TIME.
With 10 songs clocking in at a total of 30.7 minutes, PRESSURE & TIME is modern classic rock without the bloat. Served up in reasonable portions that average just 3-minutes a piece, the ‘SONS manage to capture the feeling of ZEPPELIN here and there (Face of Light) with a more fuzzed-out groove that recalls CREAM (Young Love) with a dash of HENDRIX (guitar on Only One) and THE SWEET (Save Me channels the Ballroom Blitzquite a bit).
Bottom Line: While it’s hard to believe that this record arrived via EARACHE (yes, the former home to NAPALM DEATH and CARCASS), PRESSURE & TIME is well-worth your time if you’re seeking some classic garage sounds. Whether RIVAL SONS can achieve longevity is another story.
Rating: 4/5
