Review: These Wicked Rivers – Force of Nature

Fat Earth Records (March 6^th 2024)

Reviewer: Grant Foster

Right, let’s get straight down to business. I like this album. These Wicked Rivers hail from Derby, but you wouldn’t know it if you saw them or heard this album or caught them live. There’s a natural way about them, they don’t sound contrived in any way, shape or form.

So let’s get down to the nitty gritty shall we?

What all good bands need of course, is songs. Tunes that once logged into your cranium, stay there.

And it’s fair to say These Wicked Rivers have them in spades on this album.

‘Force of Nature‘ opens proceedings and tumbles through the door like a gunslinger intent on trouble. Destined to be a live favourite with the ‘Woah’ backing vocal refrain, there’s a hint of Blackfoot about this track, with enough light and shade to create real depth.

Space in songs isn’t always on offer amongst a lot of modern rock bands. Not so in ‘The Family‘ with a call and response verse between vocal and guitar. Talking of six strings, the riff age here is very Skynyrd and well put together.

‘Black Gold‘ is immediate with a chorus that is simple but so effective. Just don’t look away now! (In joke!)

‘Testify‘ is a swamp filled groove monster. The band’s rhythm section comes to the fore here, along with the almost ethereal vocal delivery. It’s a song that will have you hitting the repeat button for sure.

A change of pace on ‘When The War Is Won‘. Sometimes the slower songs are the most difficult to nail. Not for these lads. Some subtle changes here, lovely guitar solo after the first chorus, separation during the chorus, this song paints the picture of emotion and conflict at its worst.

Back to muscle of ‘The Riverboat Man‘ next……..

Now I could go on and review the remainder of the songs, of which there are ten in total, but what’s the point in that? Then there would be nothing to discover!

The song writing, the construction, the melody lines and the hook lines on this album point to a band that is only going one way.

And that’s up.

If you’re a fan of Southern rock and heavy blues, Skynyrd, BlackBerry Smoke, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet and the like you should be all over this like a rash.

To make an album that sounds like it was conceived and born in the swamps and Everglades of Florida, with such integrity and quality is a hell of an achievement.

Keep your eyes on These Wicked Rivers – John Hartwell on Lead Vocals and rhythm guitar, Arran Day on Lead Guitar and bv’s, John Hallam on Bass Guitar and Dan Southall on Drums.

They’re gonna go far.

Tracklisting:

1. Force Of Nature
2. The Family
3. Black Gold
4. Testify
5. When The War Is Won
6. Riverboat Man
7. Just To Be A Man
8. Lord Knows
9. Don’t Pray For Me
10. Lonely Road