Label: Unsigned
Release Date: 25
August 2017
Genre: Hard Rock
“Does anybody remember rock and roll? Rat Rod does! They
play rock and roll the way it should be. Hard and loud and nothing mellow!”
I first met lead guitarist Mark McCarty a few years ago when
he was playing rhythm guitar for New
Jersey based AC/DC tribute band Overdose. They split up and Mark was talking about his
new original project. Of course I was
interested – he was a huge classic era AC/DC fan like me, but he also loved
bands like Rose Tattoo, Angel, Airbourne etc. He posted sound clips and videos
and I really liked what I heard but life got in the way – I had taken a break
from writing about music and just kind of existed.
Recently I got the writing bug again and after posting on
Facebook about a less than professional encounter I had with an “elder
statesman” of British metal – Mark reached out to me about reviewing the RatRod
CD, “Do You Remember Rock and Roll”, and very kindly sent me the tracks.
Right out of the gate, with the opening track, “Rat like Me”
– Rockabilly – you can picture these guys worshiping at the altar of Duane Eddy
while wearing AC/DC shirts and wishing Bon hadn't choked on his own vomit.
But wait – then there's “Mirror Mirror” and in your mind's
eye you can see little Angry Anderson strutting around belting out the lyrics
while these guys stand behind him with their Gretsch country Gentlemen.
And then.....in the middle of the fast paced, good time rock
n' roll - bang – a balls out, blues drenched cover of “Marseilles” by the Australian band “The Angels”.
If you go to the band's Facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com/pg/ratrodrocks it lists their influences as “Chuck
Berry, Elvis, Little Richard, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The
Kinks, AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, The Angels(Angel City), Airbourne, Jet, Cold Chisel,
Free, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Kiss,”
And honestly, how can you see that and think “WOW THAT SUCKS.” You
can't. Because that doesn't suck. It's a lot to live up to – but RatRod
delivers.
Honestly about half way through my first listen I messaged
Mark to tell him how impressed I was. I
had a big smile on my face during the entire maiden listen.
These guys aren't a rip off of Australian rock bands – they
are very modern sounding – very AMERICAN sounding. And best of all (at least to me) NO BALLADS
:) Vocalist Mike Smith, while similar in tone and delivery to my beloved Bon
Scott has a lot of layers to his voice and a lot of power. The musicianship is top notch. These guys have been honing their craft for
years in bands in Philadelphia /Southern New Jersey.
This is definitely the
type of music I can see being played at barbecues this summer, or at the
beach, anywhere people want to have a good time and rock out.
Highly recommended!!
Band Members
Mike Smith: VOX
Mark McCarty: Lead Guitar
Brice McCarty: Rhythm Guitar
Elliott Howard: Drums
LilJon: Bass
-Rys
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