With US hard rockers Bullets And Octane you pretty much know what you are going to get, spirit rousing air punching rock ‘n’ roll yet that familiarity has not prevented each of their albums evolving a sound increasingly slapping down its own individual character and roar; one which certainly has got deeply under our skins, as for so many others. Riot Riot Rock N Roll is no exception, the band’s new album living up to its title with relish to be the most aggressive and compelling offering from them yet.
Predecessor Waking Up Dead stirred a whole new width of global attention with its release two years back and led to 5 European Tours and a US tour for the St. Louis originating quartet as well as shows with the likes of CKY and numerous festival appearances. Bullets and Octane did extensive touring for the album while opening slots for CKY and festival appearances at Malmo Festival in Sweden and Call Of The Wild in the UK only built upon an already rabid fan base. During that time on the road the band wrote their new album and you cannot help feeling that the adrenaline of such intensive gigging has been an inspiration to the almost pugnacious energy and lusty boisterousness behind Riot Riot Rock N Roll.
The album drives in on a barrage of beats, each a bitch slap on the senses as riffs equally gear up for the attack of its title track. When it erupts full force it is a demandingly infectious affair; an immediately gripping groove wrapping a contagion only accentuated by the familiar and rousing tones of vocalist Gene Louis. The infection is in full virulence across the quickly erupting chorus, gang vocals adding to the anthemic incitement as the track’s manipulation descended upon and used body and vocal chords like a puppet. The song is superb, guitarist Felipe Rodrigo casting web of hook littered temptation as the rhythms of bassist Zachary Kibbee and drummer Jonny Udell direct the rousing affray.
The stunning start is quickly matched by new single Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog a song co-written with ex-Buckcherry guitarist Keith Nelson. It too instantly had a firm grip on attention, its vocal and sonic blast taking hold to pave the way for a subsequent more controlled but no less captivating stroll equipped with senses clipping riffs and crisp beats. That reserve also hugs Louis’ vocals though unsurprisingly it only leads to a chorus which erupts like a fire dosed up with gasoline before the cycle returns with fiercer melodic flaming and boisterous catchiness.
The Devil springs its robust rock ‘n’ roll on ears next, riffs and beats colluding with a meaty appetite inflaming bassline as again vocals anthemically holler. As with the previous pair, there is no escaping the call and want to join its howl and swing to its creative clamour before Give Me A Reason brings something akin to pop punk meets alternative rock infection to its hard rock shuffle. Four tracks in and each has trespassed the passions with individual voices and enterprise, a trait just as potent within the deviously addictive As The Bombs Fall. Reminding a little of UK’s own Senton Bombs, the track also fuses rock pop catchiness to its muscular stomp; rhythms a punchy manipulation in the voracious bait offered and again devoured.
A touch of glam rock is courted by next up Addicted To Outrage, old school rock ‘n’ roll also embraced by its instincts as the predacious song prowls ears before swinging to its own viral dynamics and exploits to breed another major highlight which Heaven Can Wait matches with a less intimidating but no less aggressive saunter bound in lively hooks and melodic dexterity all matched by the vocal prowess of Louis and the band.
From its first surprise carrying breath Chaos was manna to the ears, the track a boozy, body swinging flirtation that infested the passions like a Central European enchantress with all the fire and vitality of a warrior. It sealed favourite track in mere moments, bawling at and romping with anyone around it leaving Rooftop Tears plenty to do to pick up an exhausted companion which it surely did in no time as Kibbee’s heavily breathed bassline stomped through ears amidst the similarly tempting sentiment loaded tones of Louis. There is a touch of Grumpynators to the track which only added to its pull and the rock ‘n’ roll pleasure feasted upon.
The album comes to a close with Lost Crazy Psycho, a track with a title that tells you all you need to know about the slice of galvanic schizo rock quickly leading the listener into inhibition free shenanigans. It is also another song which revels in the craft and imagination of a band which has uncaged their most eclectic and unique not forgetting thrilling album yet.
So do you really want to miss out on the riot?
Riot Riot Rock N Roll is out April 24th via Bad MoFo Records / Cargo Records across most online stores.
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Pete RingMaster 24/04/2020
Copyright RingMasterReview: MyFreeCopyright
That classic breeding is even more pronounced in the following Midnight Moses; a soulful and hearty incitement needing mere seconds to entice ears and involvement. The bass casts an earthy rumble throughout the song, beats and percussion dancing on its spine as the guitars again spring a web of melodic and sonic enterprise. As the first, the track is pure contagion effortlessly drawing voice and movement before Believe calms the air a touch with its emotive flame across another catchy landscape. As with all tracks in varying degrees, it feels like a familiar friend in part and fertile originality in plenty more ways, the striking Carnival in turn emphasizing that feeling with its voracious surge and esurient holler not forgetting a groove which entwines ears like a sonic succubus.
Initially the first track rhythmically entices, from a distance shaping intrigue until a few seconds later it stands eye to eye with the senses and uncages its full hungry presence. As those rhythms continue to bite, grooves and melodic enticement is woven around the distinctive and ever magnetic tones of Oates. With keys just as enterprisingly involved and hooks unleashed with almost feral intent, the track proved immediate captivation and only tightened its hold with melodic and harmonic dexterity, a Soundgarden meets Skyscraper scenting around its worldly observation extra irresistibility.
The release opens up with Unstoppable, Dirt Box Disco announcing and declaring their intent and defiance with the band’s combined vocal lure an immediate spark for personal vocal chords to unite in, the first round of solidarity quickly followed by a contagion of riffs and hooks aligned to just as virulent rhythms. With the same creative and catchy swing in Spunk’s vocals, the song had the body and spirit flinging energetic shapes and emotions like a master puppeteer.
Goodbye World follows and quickly shares eighties new wave like infectiousness, an insistent catchiness which never dilutes its temptation even as hard rock instincts bring the track further alive before another viral chorus is uncaged while the album’s title track bounds in with an insatiable rock ‘n’ roll appetite and rhythmic swing which alone had spirit and body bouncing. Again melodies and hooks almost deviously tempt and arouse, the band’s harmonies just as manipulative and galvanic as Julia’s words share knowing support.
It is a great start to the EP which She Said, its lead single only reinforces. With slightly less energy but just as magnetic intensity, the track builds its might and roar resulting in a chorus which explodes on the ears as a rich climax to appetite nagging verse and creative escalation.
So it is all pretty much organic as things change and evolve? 
Bears and Bulls opens up with Disintegration and straight away guitars are harrying the senses with anthemic energy as rhythms prowl ears and the potent tones of vocalist Tom Procter. The swinging beats of drummer Paul Brander orchestrate the predatory tone of the song with the growl of Steve Burwell’s bass keenly adding to that trespass yet everything about the track is pure contagion, guitarist Philipp Hall weaving a web of hooks and riffs as antagonistic as they are rapaciously catchy.
In The Dead Of Winter strides in next, confident in its temptation and indeed it takes mere seconds to get under the skin as rhythms pounce and vocals hook. It is a wicked start which softens a touch as its equally contagious chorus shares keen energy, the cycle just as virulent the second time around. With Parmar again enthralling in his craft and enterprise, the track lays down a strong best track claim before Farewell slows things a little but adds greater intensity and emotion in its metal infused canter. Melodically haunting as drama lines every moment entangled in the emotive intimation of the guitars, the song makes for one of the album’s most absorbing moments.
Mayhem follows, guitars weaving their melodic prowess as rhythms firmly land. Metal and heavy rock hues collude in its rapacious stroll, The Siren’s vocals a web of narration and agility matched by the exploits of the band alongside. There is a Nightwish meets Otep like breathe to the track but as proved by every track, like next up Three Two Three, Illusions of Grandeur have conjured true individuality in their sound. The album’s third track rises on a resonating drone, its thick draw devoured but still throbbing within the song’s erupting drama and intensity. Soon after writhing grooves slowly entangle the predacious heart at its core as vocals again lure moth like ears to their bright flame, the track seducing with its every invasive breath.