RED DEAD ROADKILL – Sweet Songs of Anguish
- Posted on 10-08-2019
I was not really sure what to expect when I popped this 12-track offering by Red Dead Roadkill into the record player, but I was pleasantly surprised at just how meaty and invigorating this stuff sounds. I guess it was the rather evocative album artwork that threw me a curve ball in that I had no idea if these guys were dabbling in psychedelic 60s inspired rock or goth metal, but in actual fact, "Sweet Songs of Anguish" is a fine collection of punchy hard rock tunes with a sharp edge and and a modern sheen to them.
While the male vocals hardly stand out or impress as such (although they do get the job done), the female vocals are pretty damn fiery and spirited, and they work incredibly well on top of the band’s crunchy riffs and strong melodies. The arrangements and production values are really good too, and the album certainly has a cool vibe and a solid drive coursing through it. The metalcore elements that sneak into the dynamic mix from time to time are arguably the weakest part of the record, but on the other hand, they add a sense of aggression and diversity to the proceedings, so I totally get why they have incorporated those. Still, they are a bit hit-or-miss and the strength of the outfit definitely lies within their fresh take on groovy hard rock music. The explosive "Pretty in Silence" and "Hail to the King" as well as the powerful ballad that is "Somewhere, Mr. Fate" are great examples of what this ensemble is capable of whipping up and how varied their tracks are.
"Sweet Songs of Anguish" may not be chock-full of revolutionary ideas or flawless as such, but it is brimming with confidence and there is a lot of talent on display here. Definitely one to add to your list of hard rock releases to check out this year.