Rock is dead. Words which have ofttimes been spoken. However, ever think about who you hear this from? Grumpy old guys who are glad “the bums lost” or people lost in their nostalgia of the “good old times”. Just take a look at the music industry today and the truth will show. There are a lot of young bands out there who do their best to revive the spirit and keep it alive. And yet, when some young guys make good music in the spirit of the old legends, they’re labeled a ‘flashback band’. All of a sudden, influences doesn’t count anymore. Well those days are over. I recently came across the album Dogwater by Chout and I must say, these guys did a good job. Of course, it’s clear where they got their inspiration. The vocals and guitar tone are reminiscent of Alice in Chains and other 90’s bands of the time. But at the same time, they bring something new to the game. And that’s what music is all about.

Rock That Rhythm

Right from the start, the first song Seasons shows what these boys bring to the table. A pulsing rhythm combined with gritty vocals draws the attention. It has some kind of familiarity, but at the same time you want to know what comes next. The song continues in a slower pace. It has a lot of emphasis on the rhythm while the melodic side of songwriting is left sideways a little more. But it’s this rhythmic take on music that gives this song power. And then suddenly, there it is. There’s a little shift in the playing and you know something’s coming. That something would be the guitar solo. To be honest, I think the solo could have been done better. Well, not better because it’s not a bad solo. I mean this as better in a way that it should maybe also have focused more on this rhythmic aspect, to complement everything that had already been built up towards. However, that’s just my idea.

The second song of the album So Long Long Gone is where I really decided I’d like these guys. It sounds heavy, has a great groove, the drummer shows his awesome chops. But most of all, to me, it has some kind of a 70’s rock vibe. That’s the good thing. The song is well structured, with great dynamics. The verses at a slower pace, allowing the music to breathe, while we, the listeners, take it all in. But then, as we get to the chorus, it breaks loose and that’s what we’re here for. This kind of push and pull with our ears makes this a really interesting piece to listen to. Add a solo on top of that which for some, maybe far off, reason reminds me of Stevie Ray Vaughan and you have all the ingredients you need.

The Song Doesn’t Remain The Same

Off to a great start so far, however every album can get boring even with great songs. If one song after the other are just the same old same old, you easily get bored. That’s why Restless Heart and All Has Been Done are well-chosen to come next. These two songs break with the previous ones in terms of style. However, they keep on leading us through the same musical landscape. And with their more ‘experimental’ approach in some places, they show that we’ve not seen all of these guys.

In The End

Every story needs its ups and downs and a great beginning demands an even greater ending. And this is delivered. The songs Out of Time and Thin Ice touch a little more into heavy metal territory while staying true to the rest of the album. More chugging riffs and more cymbals. Just what I needed. While it’s great to get a little room to breathe in the middle of an album, by the end, you’d want it to go out with more of a blast.

And in the end, this blast is what we got. Albeit maybe not in the way you’d expect a blast. The last song, To Lose, really kicks the ball home. Being kind of like a summary. We get it all, the chugging, rhythmic riffs, more melodic parts and to top it off, a solo which is kind of bluesy. This complements the underlying rhythm nicely in a way that while the song is ‘heavier’, it has this blues vibe to it. And there’s no better way than a melodic solo to show this.

Release date : July 31, 2018
Label : Records DK
Tracklist :
1. Seasons
2. So Long Long Gone
3. Restless Heart
4. All Has Been Done
5. Pick Me Up
6. Out of Time
7. Thin Ice
8. To Lose