Heartless Bastards - Arrow

My friends Josh and Nick told me about Heartless Bastards a few months back. I listened to a several tracks off their previous albums The Mountain and All This Time. I liked what I heard, an American rock band with roots in blues, country and hard rock, driven by Erika Wennerstrom's powerful lead vocals and sharp songwriting. Then I heard the new album a few days ago and immediately became a big fan.

Heartless Bastards - Arrow

This is rock 'n' roll. On their fourth full-length album, the Heartless Bastards have trended away from the bluegrass, ditching the fiddle, pedal steel and banjo, and have focused on guitar, vocals, and rhythm to produce pure, straightforward blues rock. A heavier sound than their previous efforts, there's more open space for guitar riffs and for the rhythm section to do a little exploration within the steady grooves. The album is a modern feel to Southern rock and they achieve perfection on several tracks. It's completely refreshing and a definite step forward for the band.  

Wennerstrom's voice is bluesy and tough, and it fits perfectly with the music on this album. She's a powerful singer with a lively energy and presence. I would love to catch a show of theirs on an upcoming tour, because I imagine it's a great concert.

The album as a whole has it's ups and downs. Some songs are absolutely rockin' and highly enjoyable. The standout is "Parted Ways" with its swaying rhythm, catchy melodies and an excellent hook in the chorus. Wennerstrom's voice really shines on this track. It makes an awesome late-night bar song for sure. "Marathon," which opens the album, is a nice ballad introduction that eases you in. "Only For You" possesses a bouncy drum beat that is highlighted by Wennerstrom's voice punching with the timing and rock guitar riffs that play throughout the song and come out for rhythmic solos. "Got To Have Rock And Roll" is the heaviest track on the record and it really gives its title meaning.

However, "The Arrow That Killed The Beast" rambles on at a slow pace for a little too long. Same goes for the closing track, "Down In The Canyon." The track "Late In The Night" can come across as a little cheesy, although that doesn't make it horrible, it does have a great guitar solo towards the end. It's just one of the songs that I probably won't mind skipping in future listens, but maybe it will grow on me.

Arrow does certainly have way more positive moments than negative ones, and several songs are truly outstanding. As I said earlier, this album has officially made me a fan of the Heartless Bastards and I can't wait to catch their live act.

Album Highlights: Parted Ways, Only For You, Got to Have Rock And Roll, Low Low Low