The Graveltones – Love Lies Dying

The Dynamic Aussie Duo strikes again! Right from the word go The Graveltones second album ‘Love Lies Dying‘ hits you like a rampaging rhino that tramples all over you, backs up, and for good measure, tramples all over you again and again to make sure the job is done! That briefly best sums up this album in just one sentence. The album is also darker, full of attitude, aggression, grit and is edgier than The Graveltones debut album ‘Don’t Wait Down’.

Opening track and first single ‘World On A String’ starts off where The Graveltones debut album left us, and indeed this wouldn’t sound out of place on that album. With high energy and the very catchy riff work from Jimmy O, and demonic pounding rhythms from Mikey Sorbello. The pace during the first few tracks is relentless and never gives up. The riffwork hits you hard and hits you heavy. Third track ‘This Love’s Gonna Break‘ has a classic rock and roll sound with simple but genius riffs coming from Jimmy. Keyboards also feature and at one point I swear I could hear the faintest hint of influence and a nod to those old rock and roll masters The Rolling Stones in this track! The fantastic guitar work and immense drumming that has Mikey’s stamp all over it continues during ‘Running To You’. It is mid paced, with screeching bluesy style riffs that are so infectious, I wouldn’t have minded this to go on and on and….

There is a more modern sound to the track ‘Never Gonna Let You Go’, with its driving rhythms, fast pace and Jimmy’s high pitch screaming vocals this song wouldn’t go amiss in a club or at a party. ‘Can’t Tell A Man‘ just blew me away. I regard this as one of the best tracks on the album and this showcases Jimmy’s guitar work at its very best. This is very Bluesy Rock and Roll. Elements of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and indeed Jimi Hendrix echo throughout this, and what a sound to behold. Perhaps The Graveltones best song to date, it left me speechless, with a huge grin I still can’t control. The track easily flows into ‘In The Throes’, with Mikey owning this one. The drums are very prominent here, and the blues theme continues, again with Jimmy coming up with simple but oh so smart and catchy riff work. This has me hooked.

‘I’m A Ghost‘ begins like old school rock and roll but changes during the chorus with a more Alternative style, with a dreamlike quality that is very easy to listen to. ‘Kiss and Fuck Off‘ has tonnes of attitude and a lot of punk qualities to it. The fastest song on the album, with immense driving, pounding drums and the heaviest riff work. Great stuff which leads similarly into ‘Come & Find Me‘. The pace remains but this has lots of other elements and styles thrown in such as a slight Alternative feel, and sounds very busy musically. It all works really well and the soundscape that you hear just amazes.

‘Big Money‘ is big on heavy driving drums and heavy chunky riffs with some great guitar effects. It is still bluesy rock and roll, but with a dash of hard rock thrown in that completely satisfies my listening pleasure before closing track ‘Together Again‘ gently winds things down which is best described as a classic easy listening rock and roll ballad. Short and Sweet.

To sum up, The Graveltones second album ‘Love Lies Dying‘ completely blew my mind. Their debut album was fantastic in its own right, which I gave maximum marks to, but this album goes above and beyond that all the way to 11(or 6 out of 5)! This album is dark, full of attitude, aggression, grit, with riffs and rhythms that get you hooked from the very start all the way through. The songs also all flow easily into one another making for one magical divine musical journey of rock and roll you don’t ever want to end! I thought The Graveltones debut album would be hard to beat but they did manage to pull it off! There is still the fantastic riffs, melodies and rhythms associated with the first album, but this one feels richer, darker, heavier, fuller. The Graveltones in my opinion, are the best two piece outfit there is at the moment and long may it continue!

Track List
1. World On A String
2. Fancy Things
3. This Love Is Gonna Break
4. Running To You
5. Never Gonna Let You Go
6. Can’t Tell A Man
7. In The Throes
8. I’m A Ghost
9. Back To You
10. Kiss & Fuck Off
11. Come & Find Me
12. Big Money
13. Together Again

Love Lies Dying is released on 31st May via Lagoon Dog Records

The Graveltones are:
Jimmy O – Guitars/Vocals
Mikey Sorbello – Drums

Visit The Graveltones at:
www.thegraveltones.com
www.facebook.com/thegraveltones
https://twitter.com/graveltones

Photo courtesy of Andy Townsend