42 Decibel Rolling In Town
Rolling In Town, the new release from Argentinian rockers 42 Decibel, builds on their terrific debutHard Rock ‘N’ Roll, and delivers a gritty, raw, and unfiltered rock and roll experience. Thanks to the band’s brawny riff-power and vocalist Junior Figueroa’s Bon Scott-reminiscent pipes, golden-age AC/DC might be one of the first things that comes to mind when you listen to 42 Decibel, but dig a little deeper and you find a whole lot more. 42 Decibel does hearken back to 1970s AC/DC, but the band is also inspired by what inspired AC/DC (and a whole lot of other hard rockers) in the first place: the blues and 1950s rock and roll.
To quote the band’s drummer Nicko Cambiasso: “Our music doesn’t attempt to raise any particularly complex issues, it’s based pure and simple on a conscious vintage aesthetic, a traditional sound and the essence of classic rock and blues”.
There’s a fierce, maverick energy and a sweaty, attractive heat to the music on Rolling In Town. The rugged vocals, the added shine of some slide guitar, and the never-failing, steady as a rock pulse of the drums is all part of the 
attraction. It’s all right there, as soon as the band kicks into the album’s first track, ‘Can’t Keep Control’, a hard-rocking tune that rides high on Figueroa’s vocals and some stick-to-your-ribs guitar and bass. The band’s bluesier streak is on full display on the next track, ‘Short Fused’, a slow-burning track with a whole lot of bluesy heft.
On ‘Rude And Fast’ the band speeds things up with a tune that sounds like a hard-rock infused 1950s rocker; and that vibe shows up again on ‘Drop of Booze’ – a stomping and swinging throwback tune with some great slide guitar included for good measure.
After the hard-rocking ‘Burning Down The Road’ comes one of my favourite tracks on the album: ‘Eye of the Hawk’ – I really love this stripped down and powerful track with its bone-heavy beat, and rambling guitar.
The first single off Rolling In Town was ‘Midnight Teaser (Evil Woman)’, and for good reason: this track hits all the good spots with an irresistible beat and hook, showcasing both Cambiasso’s drumming, as well as some excellent guitar work.
‘Cold Steel Rider’ starts off almost gently, building slowly, and then turns into another rollicking, hard-rocking ride. I just love how the back and forth between the band members comes to the forefront here: this is a band with definite personality, and it comes through strong on this track.
Final tune ‘Smooth Talker’ is another favourite of mine: it has that loose and easy vibe of a band that just enjoys jamming together. Great tune, and such a great live-vibe.
42 Decibel is a band that has really found its own voice and strength, and that confidence is paying off on this album. For all those of us craving some hard-rocking, bluesy grooves, Rolling In Town hits the spot.
Rolling In Town will be available in North America October 2, and is already available elsewhere.
42 Decibel on Facebook / Twitter
Lineup:
- Junior Figueroa: vocals and lead guitar
- Billy Bob Riley: rhythm/slide guitar
- Matt Fraga: bass
- Nicko Cambiasso: drums
Track-list:
- Can’t Keep Control
- Short Fused
- Rude And Fast
- Drop of Booze
- Burning Down The Road
- Eye of the Hawk
- Down The Hatch
- Midnight Teaser (Evil Woman)
- Cold Steel Rider
- Smooth Talker
Maria Haskins’ Real Rock And Roll: Website / Twitter / Facebook
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