Four years after their previous album, Head Stunts, The Datsuns are back with 14 slices of pure rock & roll. Death Rattle Boogie finds the band getting down to basics, rocking out for the sheer fun of it, regardless of current trends and expectations.
Over the years The Datsuns have tinkered with their basic sound…classic 70s hard rock meets punk attitude… by bringing on high profile producers or tinkering with psychedelia. While it’s understandable to try and expand their musical palette, Death Rattle Boogie proves that old adage…don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.
The disc kicks off with the one-two punch of Gods Are Bored and Gold Halo, two outstanding rockers featuring plenty of unbridled wah-wah guitar and attitude to spare.
Axethrower is a slow, grinder, while Bullseye features a monster bass line.
The band shifts gears on Skull Full Of Bone, offering up a spare drum pattern and a lighter touch. But don’t worry; the guitars make their presence known later in the track.
At just over six minutes long, Wander The Night is a cool, atmospheric jam with a Doors vibe thanks to the organ playing and echo-laden vocal. Again, the dreamy feel explodes into rock & roll carnage later in the piece.
From then on it’s a race to the finish with short, sharp rockers like Helping Hands, Hole In Your Head and the excellent Brain Tonic. The band throws in some pumpin’ 50-style piano on Goodbye Ghosts, just to keep things interesting.
All-in-all this is as solid a collection of great rock and roll tunes as you’re likely to hear this year, resulting in The Datsun’s least self-conscience and best effort since their stunning debut a decade ago.
Time flies when you’re having this much fun!
Marty Duda
Click here to listen to Brain Tonic from Death Rattle Boogie:
