Think of a punkier, thrashier, Motorhead, mixed with a hint of Black Sabbath, and you would be pretty close, in being able to describe the sound of, Against the Grain. Against the Grain is a 4 piece, out of the Detroit, and Road Warriors, is their 4th release. Not knowing much about these guys, before their disc showed up on my doorstep, I really didn't know what to expect. The thing that did catch my eye, was the cover of their latest release. It is a picture of a dude riding a Harley, or some sort of bike, through space. How metal is that? I mean this sucker is trucking, with lots of power coming from that bike, as well as from this band.
Road Warriors starts off in fine form, with the lead track Here to Stay. It is a up-tempo rocker that has a classic 70's vibe about it, without sounding dated. Kind of like an upbeat, Sabbath, type tune. The song is driven by a cool groove laden riff, that gets your head banging quickly. The next track, Til We Die, takes it up another notch, evoking memories od Kill Em' All era Metallica. Pretty sweet! That is the cool thing about this band, because they borrow from the past, but they put a nice modern spin on it, and make these tunes their own.
There is a nice variety on this record, because one minute you'll get a thrash tune, the next a punk tune, and then some doom. These guys really surprised me and made me a believer, with this release. If you're looking for something fresh, with attitude, and a classic vibe, then Against the Grain is for you. Go get it.
Bottom Line: Against the Grain is one of those bands, that wears their influences on their sleeves, while still keeping an identity. A solid 4th effort from these rockers, from the Motor City.
Standout Tracks: Sirens, Comin in Hot, Nothing Left to Loose and Til We Die
-Ragman is digging the variety on this one. Man, these guys can lay down a groove.