Blue Days Black Nights
Rise Up And Fall, 2019
9/10
Listen to Blue Days Black Nights
If you haven’t familiarized yourself with Speedealer yet (formerly known as REO Speedealer), here’s the gist: they’re loud, they’re upfront, and they are essentially the soundtrack to any misfit, outcast and iconoclast walking the planet.
“Never New” starts this comeback album with a fury of guitars and percussion as the yelping vocals complement the chaotic setting that still retains plenty of gritty melody, and “Rheumatism” follows with a throbbing pulse of turbulent rock.
Further along, “Nothing Left To Say” brings a darker, metal spirit with a raw atmosphere, while “Sold Out” howls with an almost bluesy spirit amid the biting delivery of stadium friendly rock. “Losing My Shit”, the album highlight, then recruits punk rock sensibilities with an incendiary rhythm section that few could replicate.
Near the end, “Shut Up” is an abrasive and forthright execution of timeless rock’n’roll with soaring guitar solos, and the title exits the listen with a blistering conclusion of thrash tendencies infiltrating the reported nods to ELO.
Though this is their first record in 15 years (the early 2000’s were quite prolific for the Texans), it really sounds like not a day has passed. Whether you’re into hardcore, arena rock or some form of metal, you’ll definitely be a fan of Speedealer, as these guys know how to have a good time that’s fiercely inviting and flowing with intensity.
Travels well with: Motorhead- Bad Magic; Supersuckers- The Smoke Of Hell