If you’re read the Rockpit over the last couple of years then hopefully we’ve introduced you to Doomsday Outlaw already. In our view, so far the band has done a stellar job and produced some fine sounds, big and bold enough to bring a smile to the face of even the most grumpy old rocker. And ‘Hard Times’ sounds like an even more momentous collection…
This time around the band start out with a more laid back feel that unfolds into a big fat soulful bluesy rocker built upon simple riff and a great vocal – title track ‘Hard Times’ is that song and its a great way to kick things off. It’s followed by ‘Over and Over’ which starts out with an even groovier riff and has an even bigger melody that would should get everyone’s foot tapping: and its just relentless from there.
If you like what you’ve heard so far ‘Spirit that Made Me’ adds some nice Soundgarden-like grunt and ‘Into the Light’ throws some delicacy, feeling and contrast into the mix before ‘Bring It on Home’ um, can we not say brings it on home? Well it does, but it also injects some more groove and urgency into the mix. So far so outstanding!
By the time you get to the midway point ‘Days Since I saw the Sun’ you realise that this is a band that just get better all the time and have already grown so much musically and with that confidence come some great dividends for listeners. But t gets even better: ‘Will You Wait’ brings some slow burn and a gentle emotional plea before the guitar crashes in and intensifies things before it falls back again, then builds and takes in some lush orchestration enhanced with some fine guitar work. We love it.
Starting the homeward stretch we get three of the best songs here: ‘Break You’ leads the charge with a powerful bluesy hard rock thrust that leads to ‘Come My Way’ and its darker deeper edge, rolling groove, and slight ‘Southern rock’ tinge before ‘Were You Ever Mine’ ponders that age old question with a solid hard rocker that starts slowly and grows teeth before it bites and the refrain sinks its teeth right in and hangs on with some inspired soloing.
Closer ‘Too Far Left to Fall’ leaves you with the feeling that anything is possible with a second foray into heavier ‘Badmotorfinger’ territory. It’s great to close on such a rock solid high.
This might just be the best from Doomsday outlaw yet so do yourself a favour and get some ‘Hard Times’…
