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Doomsday Outlaw - Hard Times

Release Date : 11.5.2018

Record label : Frontiers

Track Listing 
  1. Hard Times
  2. Over and Over
  3. Spirit That Made Me
  4. Into the Light
  5. Bring It on Home
  6. Days Since I Saw the Sun
  7. Will You Wait
  8. Break You
  9. Come My Way
  10. Were You Ever Mine
  11. Too Far Left to Fall

Now seems to be a good time for new underground hard rock bands pushing themselves to the forefront of the scene. Doomsday Outlaw are a good example of that. I was told the day after their Debut album 'Suffer More' was released Frontiers got into contact with them to hear it based on a review in Classic Rock magazine. I have a lot of respect for Frontiers because they are willing to takes chances on new music and usually they get it right. This is one of those times where they have.

The three singles that were released 'Over and Over', 'Spirit That Made Me' and 'Bring It On Home' all carry on the same style as 'Suffer More' which is a sort of groove blues hard rock with a pinch of country. I expected more of the same from 'Hard Times' but it turns out that the rest of the tracks are somewhat more experimental and venture into slightly new territories for the band. This makes for a more interesting listen that it's predecessor. One criticism I have is that for me there's not enough gain on the guitars at times and it seems a little bit flat because of it. This may have been a deliberate choice to sound that way but I find it lacks the power it could have had in places. That being said it's not enough to stop me enjoying the album.

The title track kicks off like a hard rock, good time rodeo and will have you bopping your head with a smile on your face. Much like the rest of the album. The mood eventually takes a drastic turn with 'Into the Light' with it's piano and violin. Phil gets to express the full emotional range of his voice on this track proving he can more than just rock out. 'Days Since I saw the Sun' see the band break away from the minor key with possibly my favourite track. I love a good harmony vocal and this chorus is covered in them. Were you wondering if there was a 7 and a half minute epic on here? with orchestral parts and a prog vibe? no? well there is, and 'Will you Wait' is that track. It's worth your time. Continuing to experiment, 'Break you' starts with a funky almost Motown sounding intro. It then returns to the country style groove rock of before. Wanting a bass line so chunky it will leaving you gurning? 'Come my Way' delivers followed by some Black Label Society style riffs for the chorus. The album ends on a almost Stoner/doom feel with its down tuned slowed down riffage of 'Too Far Left to Fall'.

Overall the variation in the tracks is just the right amount to not feel disjointed and I hope it takes them on to bigger and better things because I want them to be around for a while purely for my own selfish enjoyment. For that to happen you need to support them so buy this album/see them on tour/tell your friends. If you don't have any friends just scream 'have you heard of Doomsday Outlaw?' out of your window at passers by.

Rating : 9/10


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