Some bands you just instantly ‘get’ and when I first heard Blackbird Sons debut EP ‘Back in the Game’ I knew people had to hear it – featuring a track ‘Scream For Me’ on our very first podcast. Their second EP ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Ain’t Dead’ added five new tracks mid last year before a single emerged in September called ‘Top of the World’. Then things got pretty quiet.
But here we are a year later, post-covid awaiting the arrival of a first full-length release entitled ‘Dance With the Devil’. And whilst some bands might have been a bit cheeky and reworked a couple of the best from their EP’s Blackbird Sons have put their money where their collective mouth is and come up with ten all new tunes.
Opening with their best foot forwards as always ‘Wild and Free’ is an out and out rocker built on a rumbling bass and an AC/DC riff, there’s also a taste of the late 80’s Sunset Strip in there that I’ve not detected before, it was all I needed to reassure me that this was going to be anther great release.
‘Dance With the Devil’ is a song that has hints of everything from a feel-good seventies rocker to a cut from Guns ‘n’ Roses ‘Lies-era.’ It’s catchy as hell too and sure to get some attention – if only they could play these live! ‘On the Run’ keeps that laid back AC/DC theme, adds a little Free and a splash of Electric Boys; whilst ‘Blackjack’ has a harder edge and smoother verse all riding on that beautifully positioned guitar which is central to the mix.
There’s plenty more fuel in the tank though and it’s the out and out rockers though that work best – ‘You Can’t Stop Me’ is a great hard boogie with a huge chorus, and ‘Running Train’ is loud a raucous in the vein of bands like Junkyard in their prime, with a chorus that can’t help you thinking of Motley! There’re split apart by ‘Cross the Line’ signals a nice change of pace, a Southern, demi-country rocker with some real grit under the fingernails.
The run out packs some punch too with ‘You Really Got It’ sporting some wonderful guitar and that mid-tempo groove that again can’t help you thinking of AC/DC.
‘The Sting’ opens things up wonderfully and creates a great groove before some wonderful harmonies and a touch of funk set things alight, there’s also a wonderful breakdown into a searing solo that you can’t miss. It’s a great song and more in keeping with their prior work maybe, but it’s another that sticks. That sadly just leaves the final track ‘Too Late’ which opens with the strumming of acoustic guitars and launches into a tale of regret of thing not done, that is a masterstroke given the uncertain times we’re in.
I loved these guys from the very first listen, and like their previous EP’s ‘Dance With the Devil’ is a great mix of timeless tunes and modern songwriting sensibilities with an eye firmly fixed on the great Rock of the ’70’s when Rock was exciting and could take you anywhere. This Finnish four-piece, founded in 2016, understand that and play great ‘back to basics’ Rock and Roll, where the blue infused riffs and grooves are the real soul of the music.