THE DEFIANTS – Drive

One can never really get enough of big, loud, and unapologetically catchy hard rock when it is well-written and charming, and that is exactly what the energetic Drive is.

Featuring Paul Laine, Bruno Ravel, and Rob Marcello – all of whom you may associate with Danger Danger – and boasting more sing-along riffs and uplifting choruses than I can possibly count, this spirited and heavy-sounding opus recalls the best of muscular 80s rock and the whole thing exudes confidence and passion. The guitars sound amazing and the booming and hard-hitting production is superb in that it balances crunch, clarity, and sheer power splendidly. ‘What Are We Waiting For’ and the punchy ‘Against the Grain’ are arena-sized anthems that are begging to be played live and the dynamic (and somewhat heavy) gems titled ‘So Good’ and ‘The Night to Remember’ are personal favorites of yours truly.  

Solid in terms of quality and never anything but entertaining and fun to listen to, Drive is a real delight that ticks all the right boxes and a charming output that comes across as a labor of love to these ears. I need to check their previous LPs out asap.