It feels as though I’ve heard this record, or something similar, a lot lately. Riffs on riffs and the gruff, melodic vocals one expects to find down this particularly groove-laden avenue of metal. That might sound like a complaint. It’s not. If you can do something damn well you could be the first or the thousandth, I don’t mind. Still, it’s fortunate that The Bastard Sons do it well.
If you happen to have caught opener ‘O’ Brothel Where Art Thou’ before. you may recall its triumphant chorus. Sandwiched between sections of the smoothest riffery and taking the song to a whole new level. Frontman JJ’s spectacular vocals combine with a fantastically danceable drumbeat, before meeting yet another top riff to build back into the verse. With this the tone for the remainder of this short but sweet record is set. The atmospheric ‘Seasons End’ provides the only break from an onslaught that is otherwise riff after riff after riff after riff.
‘Sombre La Muerte’ is slicker than a teddy boy’s quiff. ‘IV’, heavy as hell and storming along at 100 miles an hour, it’s an anthem strong enough to lead the dead into battle. Then, closing up is ‘Winter’, another belter and not the first song I’ve reviewed recently about Game of Thrones.
There’s a lot going on throughout ‘Roads’ and everything is enjoyable. Each member of The Bastard Sons does something to prove their worth, and as a result, it sounds like the project of a well-oiled machine.
4/5
‘Roads’ EP by The Bastard Sons is released on 10th March on Kaiju Records.
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Words by Thomas Knott (@thislifeishuge)
