Review: The Rattlebacks – Sidewinder
Self -release (November 15th, 2024)
Reviewer: Phil Rozier
As a wanna be connoisseur or rock music, I’m ashamed to admit, that I didn’t realise The Rattlebacks were from my own town of Brighton! Shame on me, and damn my behind the times uneducated head to the fiery fires of hell.
The Rattlebacks, hailing from Brighton (did I say that?), with all 5 members being excellently placed to make quite the dirty racket when you press play.
Blasting the opening bars, ‘The Taste’ has the dirt and grind of a pretty early punk influence. Not overly produced, clear, and in isolation, the solid guitar works belts out some articulation before the volume swells to nothing to allow for the vocals to take over. Combining a heavy grunt, with slower almost ‘Black Crows’ style vocals the tracks slowly beats on. Moody, grungy, emotional, and solid. A pretty good opener, if not a little slower than expected for an opening track, usually set to stun. But, perhaps, the stun is yet to come…
‘Dementia Lounge’. A faster, harder piece of ‘riffage’ cracks open the second track on the album. It’s kinda a hard hitting content for a rock song. Whilst there’s some 80’s sleaze to the sound of The Rattlebacks, far has the rock society come from singing about ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’, as this track hits hard about dying multiple times and forgetting who you were, whilst presumed to be waiting in the Dimension Lounge. I’m not sure whether to be inspired, or saddened.
Track 3, simply called ‘Gods’ has a pretty good beat to it. Upbeat, and still got that Rattlebacks familiar punk and sleaze character. I like it.
‘How Calm The Silence’ is the next song. So far, the album keeps a good solid familiarity from the start. The guitars and bass, don’t really deviate from what they set out to be – loud, clear, grunge inspired riffs. Regular interludes to allow for the souring vocals to take over add some difference to track, and well timed melodies allow for a different feel to the initial recordings on the album. Allowing for a greater vocal range, ‘How Calm The Silence’ allows Josh Clarke to express a different side, giving more depth to the latest release.
As ‘Open Your Mind’ starts with guitars and drums playing with one another, you could be fooled into thinking Aerosmith had crept into the recording studio. As the track develops, I really liked the vocal play between Josh Clarke, and the supporting backing of the rest of the band. With welcome multiple intrusions of vocals from the varying band members, combined with the explosion of drum fills, this will be a great live track for sure.
Nearing half way through the album we’re treated to ‘Please Me’. A solid track, but, I’m getting the feel of the faint whiff of history repeating itself? Ever get that feeling when listening to entire albums, that songs are the same as one another? Or perhaps they’re just not as noticeable as the tracks that went before? Often, I think if you changed the order of tracks, one might appreciate the song differently, depending on where they arrive in the listening order? Anyway, I digress, lets ignore my vague attempt to challenge the complexities of the psychology of music. Let’s just leave this song with ‘not bad at all, but let’s see what might be coming next’
Seeing as it’s mid afternoon, maybe I’m in need of a coffee, but my mind is beginning to slow (maybe that’s just my age?) but I was hoping ‘Swing’, track 7 from ‘Sidewinder‘, would be at little more upbeat, and give a much needed whack round the chops to get me thinking more positively. No. Think even slower Alice in Chains, with a great heavy almost stoner rock riff. Still a good track, but perhaps not ideal when it’s approaching the 3pm natural nap time.
I should have also left ‘Behind You’ until after my mid arvo coffee. A talented expression of musical ability, and perhaps a welcomed change of feel to the previous tracks. But, I think sometimes a demonstration of talent isn’t needed on a fiery rock album. Sometimes, you just want to rock to assault your senses, where as this crafted track gently massages them.
So, just so you are aware readers, I’ve just knocked a back a coffee and listened to the final 3 tracks of the album. Sitting in the peace of the kitchen, with the rain falling outside, the track ‘Waste’ kicks into action and gets me more interested than the pre coffee listening. Faster paced, but still with the softer vocal interludes, the track moves along at pace, with some southern rock influenced grooves. ‘Lady In Wait’ follows on, with a quirky little riff, reminding me of Aerosmith again, with a kind of ‘Eat the Rich’ vibe to it. A mover of a track, I’ve found myself reinvigorated with increased hope. The later half of the track, with the guitar solo, fast paced drums; yea, this has it. This will feel good when performed live.
The final track, was a little different again. Opening with bass, and a few drum beats, very reminiscent of early Chilli Peppers. A funky slow pace grove, the wine of a voice box, and a slinky bass climb down. The Les Paul fires up from time to time, and is a great alternative way to finish an album. Chuck in some angry lyrics, and you’ve got a closing remark that has left me thinking ‘when and where are these guys playing live?’
Well, if that’s how an album leaves you feeling, I’d say job well done guys. The Rattlebacks are touring the UK at some great venues. Check out the tour dates, in October and November. Playing some smaller venues now, catch them before they out grow the smaller capacity places.
Tracklist:
1. The Taste
2. Dementia Lounge
3. Gods
4. How Calm The Silence
5. Open Your Mind
6. Please Me
7. Swing; 8
Behind You
9. Waste
10. Lady In Wait
11. Lazy Brian
Line-up:
Seth Markes (drums)
Jack ‘The Hell’ Hollamby (bass)
Coxy (rhythm guitar)
Max Horn (lead guitar)
Josh Clarke (vocals)
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