Swamp Donkey - Time To Rise pre-release album review!
EXCLUSIVE: PRE-RELEASE ALBUM REVIEW FOR SWAMP DONKEY'S "TIME TO RISE"
you guys are in for a treat i tell you , this album is a masterstroke it really is these guys are brilliant, geT an idea of what the album is like down below!
Whole. drum fills and guitar hooks up to the eye balls. All with a little twist of classic hard rock thrown in. This album is the perfect , hard hitting blend of smooth transitions , old skool hard guitar licks and catchy choruses. It has an energy behind it that is contagious. This album is definitely going to make a stir with the music community when it is released. the slow bubbling tension under the entire album that is reminiscent of Metallica’s work. This album isn’t heavy for the sake of being heavy, it seems organic and natural, as if the album couldn't be any other way. Considering these guys aren’t a huge band (yet!) this EP is extremely well developed and has that finished feeling to it you don’t often get with some smaller bands.
My favourite track is “Judged”, it has a refreshing Metallica feel to it whilst still sounding original and very much like Swamp Donkey. You guys are in for such a treat when this drops. I am honoured to be able to hear this album before it’s general release. The vocals on this album are what makes the sound original for me, the drums and the guitarist are also very unique in their style but the vocals have the feel that the vocalist is just on the edge of breaking out in to a guttural scream and it works fantastically to make you want to get up and punch the air (or another person at the gig). The only bad thing about this album is that it isn’t twice the length! trust me, by the end of the album you will be wishing there was more because it just kicks that much ass.
“Rise” does exactly what it says on the box, it’s volatile energy makes you want to wreck shit and rise up, do some damage. It has that polished feels to it , you can tell Swamp Donkey spent a lot of time on this Ep, but they didn't lose the rock/metal edge that makes this genre so likeable, it has some passion and energy behind it. I think this will definitely be a crowd favourite. These guys are moving up in the world with this album , it is more whole and finished than their older tunes. Don’t get me wrong Swamp Donkey have always killed it but this sounds more professional. They have blended complicated guitar hooks and licks with this steady beat to make a sound that is completely their own. This is a band to watch out for and this album demonstrates the talent in the greater Birmingham area.
Have you ever heard an album so kick ass and you are so shocked more people aren’t talking about it? that is the feeling I have now , and it hasn’t even been released yet. This album is huge , and I don’t mean in length, I just mean the impact this album is going to have on the scene. It has all the ingredients of the some of the world’s best albums but it comes together to make something entirely new. Energetic. Cataclysmic. Technical. Everything you need for a good old fashioned Rock anthem album with a modern twist. This album is revolutionary for the classic hard rock enthusiasts and musicians , it shows the scene is alive and well and that it isn't stagnant - it's evolving!
Sometimes with this kind of slow rock feeling music the songs don’t go anywhere , which is why some people don’t like this kind of music. This album challenges those preconceptions in the way Grime music from the Uk fought back against mumble rap’s growing popularity in the US. The prime example of this is “Mainstream Slipstream”. This song has so many different rhythms and such diverse sound to it has turned the conventional sounds of Hardcore rock on it’s head. The chorus has an almost Foo Fighters-esque twist on it which I was not expecting. It builds up to an epic finale with a nice guitar solo and some awesome drum fills that really make the song feel that much more complete. This will be another crowd favourite I am sure of it. Swamp Donkey have really stepped up their game with this EP and you all need to remember their name , so you can say “ I used to know Swamp Donkey when they played small venues where I lived”.
When this album drops I urge you all to buy it , put it on with you and a few like-minded mates, have a pint or 7 and really get into it. That is the best way to experience this album other than seeing it live (which I will definitely be doing when I can make it down to Birmingham). Listening to this Ep and being able to work with David of Swamp Donkey has boosted these guys to my Top 5 small band list. This band is not one to sleep on , and neither is this album. It has been a pleasure working with these guys , I find it astonishing I get to interview and talk with such talented people. Check this album out, give these guys some love and support your local scene!
