Lowdrive – Rise
(Cargo Records – 2023)
The long awaited second full release from the Sheffield stoner merchants is finally here at last with ten heavy laden tunes for you to get your ears around.
The four piece have a larger than life line-up of Andy Sawf (Vocals), John Hodgson (Guitars), Mat Washington (Drums) with a new bassist to the fold called Martian Gargalovic) and are ready to do more battle to our weary old tabs. So let it commence!
The album grabs you right away moody track 'Down' with what turns out to be purely an instrumental going by the name of that flows into the steamrolling title track 'Rise'. A firm favourite already is the slipper stomping 'Into The Light' that was the first cut written before we went to lockdown ironically that they've been airing live in concert for quite a while now which the crowd love a lot.
Later on, another thing comes at you with through a live wire that is 'All Seeing Eye'. Then there's the ballsy 'Shield Wall' with its Zulu like chanting at the end with it all finally exploding with the gutsy 'Warcry'.
Here's to witnessing many of the songs at a show closeby or further afield.
8/10
By Glenn Milligan