There are few bands that we’ve got to review every single release by on the Rockpit: but forming in 2008 and releasing their first full length ‘The Devil Rhythm’ in 2011 – Trucker Diablo is one of them. They’re also one of the most consistent – with 2013s ‘Songs of Iron’, 2015’s ‘Rise Above the Noise’ and 2017’s ‘Fighting For Everything’ all great noisy, dirty, Hard Rocking goodness! There was a longer than usual break before 2021’s equally great comeback ‘Tail End of a Hurricane’ and now three years later they’re back with another cracking chapter in the story of a band that should be on everyone’s radar.
New Album ‘Social Hand Grenade’ is an immensely enjoyable ‘Stadium Sized’ return that was recorded over the course of 2 years, at Manor Park Studios. As the press release sates: “If it were a car, it’d be a gas-guzzling American hot-rod, all chrome, firebird logos and illegal exhausts, just like the full on live Trucker Diablo experience!” and they’re not wrong!
Honestly as soon as I heard the intro to ‘Kill the Lights’ I knew Trucker was back. I’ve always been a big fan of these Northern Island giants and this time around there’s a familiar fire in the belly and the same relentlessness that drew me in from the off. There’s a wonderful elemental feel to the opener and I even get a bit of Husker Du in the mix. ‘Stop the Bleed’ that follows brings some wonderful Black Stone Cherry vibes too. It’s another killer song and all you need, just two songs in, to reach into your pocket to pick this up.
You know when you’ve heard a host of great albums already this year and your Top 10 is pretty fixed and you look knowingly at your calendar and think ‘It’s October now and here’s another serious contender if only they keep this up…
‘California ’74’ may drop the pace but not the quality it’s a wonderfully ‘blue sky’ mid tempo rocker that a contemporary band like The New Roses do so well, but there’s Thin Lizzy and the Eagles in there too, and some wonderful guitar. Three songs in and I’m getting a little scared for the competition.
‘Vultures’ has a bit of the Foos about it; and ‘The Power of One’ takes the foot off the pedal again delivers something that a band like Daughtry or Nickelback might deliver on a particularly good day. Indeed the deeper you dig you more you realise how much you love this album. It’s modern Rock wonderfully presented and completely addictive.
I love the way that they can just change things up though: ‘Dig-66’ has that harder sound that they do so well, it’s more aggressive, more Metallic and perfectly balanced with another killer solo to close. ‘We Are Forever’ is all about the riff and a nod to the coming of age songs that so many have done over the years, but few so well – this one is just wonderfully feelgood and completely addictive.
‘Here’s to Heartbreak’ has no right to be so damned good eight songs in. But Trucker are it seems the masters of the catchy hook-laden slower number. In a lot of ways this is a record that still manages to remind me of how great the early material was but also just how much these guys have grown since ‘The Devil Rhythm’. I honestly, listening to this can’t think of a single reason why these guys aren’t out there on the biggest stages playing to the masses they are that damned good!
Can they keep it going to the last note though? Of course they can! ‘Show Me the Way’ takes that more aggressive tack again but plants a hugely addictive chorus atop of the monster riff, like a giant cherry on the top of the biggest, baddest, chocolatiest cake!
How do you seriously end an album like this? Do you go up? Do you take it down? Trucker take all of the emotion they can and inject it into ‘What I See’ – a tear jerker on an emotional level with songs like ‘Things My Father Said’ by Black Stone Cherry, yet sonically their own. It’s an often used phrase but it really is the perfect way to end what I think just might be their best collection of songs so far.
As the press release closes: “From the one man office mosh pit crunch of Kill The Lights, to the closer What I See and the juggernaut heft of Dig! This album clocks in under 45 minutes, so you can get your breath back before you hit repeat.” I couldn’t have put it better myself!
Seriously if you want to hear one of the best albums of the year check this motherfucking epic out! Top 3 for me all the way Tom! I’ll fight anyone who says it’s not!
9/10