The Bohannons return with their fifth album, Night Construction, a mix of different southern rock sounds as the group deals with reentering back into the world after Covid, in their own way.
Led by Marty and Matt Bohannon, the quartet (drummer Mike Gault and bassist Justin Colburn) kicks off the record with the instant high point, “Get Me Out of My Head”. The larger-than-life track has touches of Cheap Trick-inspired power pop and glam rock while delivering big-time vocals, stylish guitar runs and smashing drums; a real winner all around.
From there the group tone back the poppier influences to deal with more somber offerings such as the drum/cowbell intro and distorted vocals of the title track. The split between Chattanooga and Birmingham southern rock outfit display flashes of the Drive-By Truckers influence with the slow country swaying of “Don’t You Try My Love” and the driving alt-country stomping of “Dance of the Grave of Bobby Lee” which delivers the best guitar riffs on the record.
The Bohannons have a deft touch when it comes to deploying a desert rock, eerie soundscape which they use to perfection via snaking guitars on “Arc Of The Arrow” and through a cool groove on the albums instrumental closing “Botswana”. Not every song is that effective though as the disjointed “Sense It Out” never achieves the lift-off it yearns for and the railing against a band selling out, with an ominous title of “Sleeping Wives” sounds like a mix of envy and hate.
Much better is the excellently slow-burning “Somewhere In The Dark” with huge soaring vocals, the glammy call to arms “Ride The Night” and “Her Milky Eyes” which uses an extended intro and some Ram Jam “Black Betty” inspired riffing to seal the deal. Night Construction is another stout collection of revved-up offerings from The Bohannons as they continue driving forward in life with their muscle car-ready sounds.
