ALBUM REVIEW: Tune In, Turn On, Electrify! – The Lords Of Altamont
The new wave of classic rock has slowly but surely been gaining momentum throughout recent years with a number of bands returning to that nostalgic sound of the 60s and 70s for their music of today. From THUNDERMOTHER to GRETA VAN FLEET, it’s interesting to see how people develop and evolve that known sound and style to make it their own. This is no exception with LA’s THE LORDS OF ALTAMONT, who are not only inspired by that sound, but add in their own flavour of garage rock from the 90s into their music. With their sixth release, Tune In, Turn On, Electrify!, have they kept up that momentum with their blending of styles, or is it a jumbled mess?
Surprisingly, it really does work on this outing. Everything just flows so smoothly, with its groove-driven sound and layout with all the instruments, it’s divine to listen to. It’s vibrant, bluesy, but also has a garage and even at times punky edge. For example, Blast For Kicksville feels very inspired by THE RAMONES in the vocals and with the lyrical structure. The lyrics are also great in songs like I Just Want, where they’re fun and bouncy, sliding along with the rest of the music, but not too simple that it drags down the sound. They sound very IGGY POP inspired, like with I Wanna Be Your Dog. All the lyrics are equally spaced, great to scream along to, and fit within that blues/garage sound the band have made for themselves.
The music itself is brilliant throughout the whole album. From the driving drums in We’ll Never Leave (This World Alive), to the brilliantly riffy bass in Burn Me Out, there’s great talent that is on display throughout these 11 tracks, and they all work well to play off each other to bring the best out of each other without overshadowing their own sound.
Tracks like Living With Squares, Soul In Flames and Mud (Wet Brain) to name a few showcase this greatly. Lost In The Future sounds like a punk version of a waltz, thanks to its use of compound time, and it’s a nice change of pace whilst keeping that groove and blues sound. Million Watts Electrified is one that shows off the power of the keyboard, inspired a little from the classic Gimme Some Lovin with its riff. It’s not a copy by any means, but it’s nice to hear those little moments of influence seep through and show how the band are inspired by sounds of the past whilst making it their own.
Tune In, Turn On, Electrify! is a fantastic album from THE LORDS OF ALTAMONT, and one to have alongside the other amazing bands that are in the classic rock revival that’s been happening in music. Their sound is like if Dave Grohl decided to take over DEEP PURPLE and give it just a little of a punk edge. Guitar solos are on fire, vocals are the right level of punch and grit, and the whole album works beautifully from beginning to end. Whether new to the classic/psychedelic side of rock, or a side of music that is all too familiar, it’s an album to enjoy again and again, and worth picking up next time a visit to the local record store comes around.
Rating: 9/10
Tune In, Turn On, Electrify! is out now via Heavy Psych Sounds.
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