Since forming in 2006, Tennessee outfit the Bohannons have played a fiery brand of rock and roll that is both high-energy and high-volume. The comparisons to Neil Young are apt – particularly when you hear the searing vocals of Marty Bohannon. At least some of songs on the band’s last album Luminary Angels (2015) sound like what might have happened if Neil Young fronted Nashville Pussy. The new album Bloodroot may have less of an edge than the previous album, but it shows the band can still rock.
Marty Bohannon said the album is “inspired by our home, family, friends, and this indelible planet. The songs are vignettes of this wild journey we are on. No matter the inspiration, fans will be pleased with these nine rock and roll songs.
Some people might be tempted to call this Southern rock, which is fitting considering the band is from Chattanooga. However, the guitars – particularly in songs like “Sleep Rock” – would fit just as easily in a Supersuckers song.
While the band plays straightforward rock and roll, it shows that it’s not afraid to go a little off the beaten path with songs like “Hungover Hills,” which features a piano part worthy of Tom Waits and some whistling in the background that lends a haunting feel to the song.
Haunting is kind of a recurring theme on the album. The aptly title “Howling” is darker in tone than some of the songs. The melody is reminiscent of The Dirty South by Drive-By Truckers while the backing vocals are – fittingly – somewhat howled.
As you move from one song to the next on this album, you realize that the members of this band play music like their lives depend on it. It’s a refreshing thing. Whether it’s the uptempo rhythms or the frantic instrumentals like in “Twister Sister,” the band members pour their heart and soul into every note. Marty Bohannon ties it all together with a powerful voice that sometimes rises to a shout.
The album closes with the ballad “Nice and Slow.” It is not as loud or uptempo as the other songs, but it is just as evocative. It’s hard not to be entranced by the fiddle that plays a prominent part.
This is a solid album of modern rock with its roots in the sounds of the 70s. The band put a lot of energy into recording this album, and it shows. Bloodroot (Cornelius Chapel Records) will be available everywhere on April 5.
