A lot of “modern rock bands” leave me cold with the all to prominent computer generated sounds, gizmo, and effects. Now, this album was Santa Cruz’ third release that appeared in 2017, and for the most part it is a killer in your face rock n’ roller with a huge guitar sound, plenty of monster riffs, melodies, and hooks to die for. However, the band’s latest offering The Return Of The Kings has fallen into the digisound trap. Anyhoo, enough of that as we are here to talk about this banger.
There is not a duff track to be heard (yup, even the ballad)and you wonder why these guys are not huge. There is an art to writing memorable songs with hooks and melodies that just hit the sweet spot, but these guys make it look so easy as every song here just sticks in your brain. Mix that with a killer guitarist in Johnny Parkkonen, who is not only a one man riff machine, but he can solo with best of them. Young Blood Rising sets the tone perfectly with a deep killer riff and groove and you will be singing the hook to this baby all day long. River Phoenix, Fire Running Through Our Veins, and Drag Me Out Of The Darkness all absolute monster tunes. I even love the ballad, Breathe that closes out Side 1.
Flipping the disc of awesome over to Side 2 does not dilute the vibe one bit as Voice Of The New Generation is a modern rock anthem. Back From The Dead and Bad Habits Die Hard follow and both have that anthem feel. Then we get to my fave: Pure F***king Adrenaline. This is a beast of a tune with a freakin’ huge riff and a pounding groove – it is one of the best modern rock tracks I have heard in forever. Just to show that they are just not about the riff and groove, the acoustic beauty of Get Me Out Of California follows, plus the solo is epic. The album closes out with a refrain of River Phoenix and is a cool way to finish.
If you don’t own this album already then why the hell not?
10/10 from The Grooveman.
