PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
As sophomore albums go, this is one of the most impressive I’ve heard for quite some time as Derby based These Wicked Rivers unleash the aptly titled Force Of Nature, via Fat Earth Records on March 1st 2024. These ten songs will send them to the next level with ease, such is their power!
Formed in 2014, early promise was shown from debut EP The Enemy, receiving many positive reviews only a year later and ‘II’ in 2010, gaining airplay on Planet Rock radio. Next progression was debut studio album Eden in May 2020, followed by their first headline UK tour in March 2023, taking their ‘Grandma’s Living Room’ stage set with them, and in May 2024, they embark on the ‘Peace, Love And Lampshades’ headline tour!
The production of the album is exemplary, giving the songs a major boost, point proven by album opener, the title track ‘Force Of Nature’. You will boogie, boogie, until you can’t boogie no more as the band fly out of the traps on superhuman guitars and attention grabbing snare work for one of the heaviest songs I’ve heard from them, pinned down by a gritty vocal tour de force, luscious keyboards, sky reaching “Whoa oh oh’s” and a fist clenching midsection.
The headbanging vibes of ‘The Family’ shows no signs of this family not raising its horns as it careers fast and furiously. There must be something in the scrumpy at the The Hairy Dog in Derby as they shoot from the hip, gaining all the superlatives thrown at them in this review. A twin lead midsection and gang like vocal outro is truly lungbusting!
‘Black Gold’ is the first single taken from Force Of Nature, and is a wise choice as once again, the riffs are supreme speaker rattlers at their most most potent, channeling their inner AC/DC for three frantic minutes of air guitar heaven.
‘Testify’ is a mean and moody romper stomper, proving its prowess from shuddering dynamics that resonate around a howled lead vocal par excellence, and booming outro!
Time seemed to stand still for me during ‘When The War Is Won’ for this five minute epic to end all epics. The tension builds as crooned poignant verses of gentle guitar lines and steadfast percussion that explode towards the tear jerking choruses, closing on a spotlight stealing, fretboard burning solo of power and precision.
‘The Riverboat Man’ is an in your face gruelling guitar fest of epic proportions, as swirling keyboards add subtle nuances.
The classics keep on coming and impress highly as ‘Just To Be A Man’ has an almost spoken word, ethereal vocal that adds more intensity around an almost orchestral backdrop as it swoops and soars towards a precisely picked guitar solo.
‘Lord Knows’ is a romping, stomping party starter and finisher of pounding verses that elevate to fiery choruses, and those big fat riffs are never far away.
The lyrics to ‘Don’t Pray For Me’ seem autobiographical, adding more ire to an already powerful song. There is hardly any pause for the listener to take a breath, such is its captivating delivery, especially in the numbing guitar extravaganza at the halfway mark, ending on a croaked vocal.
This sensational album closes on ‘Lonely Road’, another song with a personal feel. It’s a brief but still fulfilling acoustic number. Once again, heartache raises the beauty on gently picked chords, sweeping strings over a vocal that could shatter any second.
An album pre-order link including other band info is here :- http://linktr.ee/thesewickedrivers
Album personnel line up :-
John Hartwell – Lead Vocals/Guitar.
Arran Day – Lead Guitar.
Dan Southall – Drums/Backing Vocals.
Dale Tonks – Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals.
Rich Wilson – Keyboards/Acoustic Guitar/Percussion/Harmonica/Backing Vocals.
Force Of Nature album track listing :-
Force Of Nature.
The Family.
Black Gold.
Testify.
When The War Is Won.
The Riverboat Man.
Just To Be A Man.
Lord Knows.
Don’t Pray For Me.
Lonely Road.
- £12.99
