Rival Sons

'Head Down' (album stream)

BY Alex HudsonPublished Oct 22, 2012

Rival Sons are coming off impressive opening slots for the likes of AC/DC and Guns N' Roses, and now the blues-tinted California hard-rock band are ready to drop their new album. Head Down is already out in Europe and the U.S., and its Canadian release will follow on October 30 through Earache Records. Before its official release up north, you can listen to the whole thing at Exclaim.ca.

The bulk of the collection's 13 tracks boast brawny blues licks, powerfully wailing vocals and hard-hitting, no-frills arrangements. There are a few stylistic detours, including the Kinks-esque garage rock tune "Under the Sun Comes," atmospheric acoustic numbers "Jordan" and "TRUE," and the epic-length psych jam "Manifest Destiny Pt. 1." For the most part, however, this is an album to blast at full volume while you're cruising in your car with the windows rolled down.

Head Down follows 2011's Pressure & Time. It was recorded in Nashville with producer Dave Cobb (Imaginary Cities, Shooter Jennings) and engineer Vance Powell (Jack White, the White Stripes, Kings of Leon). Take a listen below.

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