Nocturnal Youth
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
The Atlanta rockers Pistols At Dawn make quite an impression with this 4 song EP, where their bristling and intense ways also embrace a powerfully melodic angle, much in part to frontman Chris Pierson’s diverse vocal acrobatics.
“Voices” starts the listen with a thick, chugging presence that thumps loudly will still being quite melodic in a groove friendly way that might remind you of Quicksand, and “Crown” follows with a heavier appeal where thundering drumming from Adam Jaffe and impressive guitar work from Devin White and Tommy Richardson help the EP highlight fall somewhere between metal and post-hardcore.
The back half of the listen is equally strong, and includes the light versus dark textures of the dynamic “Now Is The Time”, and “Gone Black” exits the listen sonically charged with the rhythm section of Jaffe and Billy Sullivan anchoring a rugged yet tuneful version of modern hard rock.
Similarities to Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown or even Tool won’t be hard to spot here, as Pistols At Dawn bring an equally impactful approach to songwriting that will have any fan of hard rock, past or present, enamored.
Travels well with: Rebel Rampage- Divided We Fall; Danko Jones- A Rock Supreme