Review: Robert Jon & The Wreck – Red Moon Rising (Deluxe Edition)
Robert Jon & The Wreck – Red Moon Rising (Deluxe Edition)
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Journeyman Records
Release: 2024
Text: Bert van Kessel
Robert Jon & The Wreck have undoubtedly evolved into one of the most exciting rock bands of this era. The five friends from Orange County, California have got their feet firmly set in Southern Rock: their influences Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Black Crowes are never far away, but since their start in 2011 they have developed into much more than that; the passionate outfit offers superb melodies with heavyy riffs and catchy hooks that stick,adorning their southern (hard-)rock with a whole lot of soul and Americana with Robert Jon Burrison’s rough and flexible vocals to tie it all together. It’s easy to understand why Joe Bonamassa eagerly signed the band to his Journeyman label.
Thematically their ninth full-length studio album deals with the myths and traditions linked to a red moon, symbolising rebirth and change, which is the gist of this new album.
The band fire away right from the start, going full throttle in the opener Stone Cold Killer, telling the world: We are a rock band! Henry James contributes some excellent slide. Trouble is driven on by new man Jake Abernathy’s luscious keyboard. After that the band take their foot off the accelerator for a bit in two soulful ballads, in which Robert Jon Burrison once again proves what a great singer he is. There are plenty of piercing guitars in the exuberant Down No More (with a strong Allman Brothers feel), Give Love and especially Hate To See You Go.
Dragging Me Down‘ is vintage Robert Jon & The Wreck with passionate playing and singing throughout. Hold On is true Southern Rock with powerful vocals from Robert Jon. Worried Mind is a compelling rock song with Robert Jon’s vocals at heir most soulful; there is gleeful support from ethusiastic harmony singers and a lovely harmonica. The touching Give Love, which has a beautiful piano, closes the LP version.
The CD has four more, great, tracks. Led out by drummer Andrew Espantman there’s the hard rocking Rager, with even an Iron Maiden feel. The twin guitars in the intro of the second “bonus track” Hate To See You Go are amazing in the spirit of Duane and Dickey.
The two closing tracks are fine specimens of their impassioned rock solid approach which is firmly rooted in the familiar Southern rock tradition.
All we need to do is follow their advice and “get wrecked” one more time.
Tracks:
01. Stone Cold Killer
02. Trouble
03. Ballad Of A Broken Hearted Man
04. Red Moon Rising
05. Dragging Me Down
06. Hold On
07. Down No More
08. Help Yourself
09. Worried Mind
10. Give Love
11. Rager
12. Hate To See You Go
13. Life Between The Lines
14. Boss Man