LOVE AND A .38 – Nomads (2016)

We already premiered worldwide LOVE AND A .38 on the blog two years ago with their EP plus some singles the band released from time to time. All very impressive stuff for an American act playing true hard rock in the US not destined to radio. Now the guys are releasing today, February 19, their full length debut “Nomads“, a confirmation of their strengths and a showcase for a group destined to big things.

Love And A .38 sound is varied, always potent. There’s classic hard rock, melodic, heavy / sleazy at times, definitely groove-laden and catchy, with notable smattering of American blues. .
I hesitate to use the comparison, because people are going to think about it in the wrong way, but I can’t help but compare these guys to Guns N’ Roses in their earliest days; tons of attitude, lots of sweat, booze-fueled swagger, and a desire to kick you in the teeth with their music.3
Do they sound like GnR? No at all, but that’s not the point. It’s that unabashed all-for-one attitude that GnR presented when they were young and hungry that I feel present in Love And A .38.

Take one listen to the album’s opener, “Oh My God”, and you will hear what I am talking about. Straight-up bad-assery is what you get here, as the band comes kicking in with a simple stomp-along march cadence, started first with just drums, then accompanied by a matching bass and guitar line.
But it’s when Ryan Hudson’s vocals spit their way into the track that you realize this band isn’t kidding around here: they’re going for your throat, and they are attacking through the ears to do it.

But wait, there’s more, much more, as that very good opener is not the best track on the record.
“Just Like Regret” is another catchy, guitar-driven rocker with a straight-from-the-barroom beat that is catchy as heck and yet so simple you wonder why other bands haven’t come up with a song like this before. Its classic heard rock quality makes you think Love And A .38 are from UK or another European country, but no, there’s still good rock ‘n roll from the USA!

“Went Away” follows suit, packing true punch into the rhythm that starts the track off, with Hudson’s scratchy-throated wailing on the chorus delivering an emotive kick that so many rock bands today simply fail to capture.
One of my two absolute faves on the record, “Abre Los Ojos” (Open Your Eyes in Spanish) teases a ballad at the beginning, but the driving, impassioned rock oozes up from beneath the simple guitar riffs and bass line that open up this powerfully emotive song that also showcases Hudson’s ability to sing, not just snarl. Some awesome lyrics can be found in this one as well.
“Big Leg Betty” slams a dose of raunch-and-roll with big, loud guitars and a catchy rhythm guitar line, along with yet another crisp guitar solo from Domo Domaracki.
The contagious jangly riff of “Holy War” will instantly draw you in and sets the stage for more of Hudson’s gritty vocals and a very cool, yet not flashy, guitar solo.

“I Won’t Wait” is pure sass and adrenaline, and easily the fastest number on the album. This baby rocks hard. “Born To Make Me Die” has a total spaghetti western feel to the intro, and its easy to envision dust and tumbleweeds blowing across the stage as the guys launch into this tune. Domo’s guitar tones are absolutely haunting here, and the galloping cadence of the drums is accentuated by the rumbling bass line. Probably my favorite track of the record, this song gets put on repeat a couple of times when I spin “Nomads”, as it is just so dang catchy that I can’t help myself!
The album closes with yet another fist pounding, head banging rocker, as “Get It Right” packs an unpolished wallop at the end of the record, from the muffled thud of the kick drums, to the buzzsaw rhythm guitars, to the bloodied-throat rasp of Hudson’s vocals.

“Nomads” is a kick ass full length debut from Love And A .38, simply put, the most exciting hard rock band coming from America right now.
This is true, pure classic hard rock, in-your-face and raw but the latter in the attitude, as everything sounds polished here without losing the the killer sonic punch. This band has the potential to be a game-changer in the US rock scene, so jump into the game now and hear what the next big thing just might sound like.
HIGHLY Recommended.

01 – Oh My God
02 – Just Like Regret
03 – Went Away
04 – Abre Los Ojos
05 – Big Leg Betty
06 – Holy War
07 – I Won’t Wait
08 – Not Comin Home
09 – Born to Make Me Die
10 – Get It Right

Ryan Hudson – Lead Vocals
Domo Domaracki – Guitars
Justin Emrod – Bass
Clark Skelton – Drums
thanks to arttieTHE1manparty

BUY IT !
itunes.apple.com/us/album/nomads/id1080439776
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