Russell HughesRival Bones – Rival Bones (Self-Released)
Genre: Hard Rock
When a band is described as being for fans of Foo Fighters, Audioslave, Black Stone Cherry and a ballsier Royal Blood by their PR team, it piques your interest.
More often than not the immediate reaction is to pour scorn on the comparison and forget about it, but after one listen you just can’t forget about Rival Bones.
Their self-titled debut EP is only four songs long, but by half way through it’s already grabbed you by the lapels and dared you to turn off the music. You can’t.
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Royal Blood showed everyone that you don’t need four people in a band to make quality rock music and Rival Bones have proven that there is plenty of life still left in the genre.
With former Boss Keloid sludge rocker Chris Thomason behind the drumkit there is plenty of experience in the band and that shows on the range of sounds the duo are prepared to pump out.
There are elements of all sorts of rock genres within the EP and whisper it quietly, yes certain bits do sound like Royal Blood – especially the introduction on Hives. However, any extended comparison between the two doesn’t do either any justice and Rival Bones are certainly their own band.
The record was recorded live and without a click track, and opener Love You Madly has elements of electrifying, swaggering rock and roll with a glorious singalong chorus while Marcheline has a softer, rolling theme running throughout the track that builds into a rock explosion.
Running brings up the tail end of the EP, but just like it’s forbearers it’s another example of how rock music should be done. Whitehouse’s voice takes on a Chris Cornell-ish quality while Thomason sets the tone from the very first second as the song twists and turns its way to the epic conclusion.
If there is any justice in the world Rival Bones will be the next breakthrough rock act this year.
RUSHONROCK RATED: 10/10 Without rival
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