It seems that Tyler Bryant has learnt a lot over the raise of his band over the last few years, most of all it’s about winning over audiences and what he refers to as “the cannonball approach” – “I’m gonna run out like a bullet from a gun and let everyone know I’m here to give ’em all I’ve got.” It’s an approach that has worked well as he’s seen his band support the likes of AC/DC and Guns ‘n’ Roses.
That attitude it seems has also been taken to the band’s third album ‘Truth and Lies’: an album that takes you on a journey from Blues through Hard Rock of both the 80’s and 90’s, as well as injecting some Southern influences and of course some softer more subtle balladic touches.
For those that have already started the journey with the band, album number three is the sort of heady mix you might expect but it’s also an album that has a real directness that might well have been aided by the speed at which it was recorded.
“After demoing 55 songs in Bryant’s home studio in Nashville, The Shakedown decamped to Studio G in Williamsburg, NY, earlier this year, where they laid down the 13 numbers that make up the record – mostly live, with a few overdubs – in just over two weeks. They worked quickly, with six time Grammy nominated producer Joel Hamilton (The Black Keys, Highly Suspect, Tom Waits), because they wanted the album to sound raw and visceral, not careful and laboured“.
So getting back to that ‘cannonball’ concept opener ‘Shock and Awe’ with its crawling hard rock and heavy guitars is the perfect example of making an impact from the off. And the hypnotic heaviness of ‘Onto the Next’ is an equally blunt instrument that brims with a confidence that is offset in places on the album where lyrics turn towards self-doubt like ‘Panic Button’ and the more hopeful and sensitive ‘Shape I’m In’ which explore those fears we all have.
It’s the crunch and distortion of ‘Ride’ though that reminds you of where all this comes from and that blues heritage is a part of Bryant’s sound that I hope always remains as strong. But this album just takes it all by the scruff of the neck and runs with it and doesn’t look back. Everywhere you’re reminded that this band is not just brimming with talented musicians but that they also have the ability to craft some wonderful songs, and best of all they aren’t constrained by a narrow view of what defines Rock and Roll.
Listen to the heartfelt and emotional ‘Out There’; the Southern stylings of ‘Trouble’; or the post-Grunge 70’s flavoured bludgeoning rock of ‘Eye to Eye’; everywhere there’s a taste of something different though it’s unmistakably the same band. Then there’s the sheer Hard Rocking rush of ‘Drive Me Mad.’
Best of all though might just be the ones I haven’t mentioned so far – like the brooding dark melody of ‘Judgement Day’ and the closing pair – ‘Cry Wolf’ with its slow crawl, raw power and dynamics and the equally imposing ‘Couldn’t See the Fire’ which closes.
If you’ve not picked up on these guys yet Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown is a great band who play a timeless brand of heavy Rock and Roll and this is their best album to date.
