Album Review: Danko Jones - "Power Trio"

 

Ah the rituals of life. Morning comes, sun rises, birds sing, cats meow, Danko Jones puts out another album of tight-as-you-like fired up garage rock and all is right with the world.

Jones and his band have been at this lark for a quarter of a century now and Power Trio is no less than their tenth album. They're very much a "does what it says on the tin" sort of band with the bruising riffs, snarled vocals and ultra-tight rhythm section all being present and correct here. I think with Danko a lot of the time it depends on whether you're in the mood for the full on aggro of his music but even the weaker DJ3 albums are more just average than terrible.

And I'm pleased to report that Power Trio is definitely one of the group's stronger cuts. It's absolutely nothing you won't expect but sometimes there's an argument to be made for sticking to what you know best, especially if you're as skilled at it as these guys are. Highlights include the storming opener I Want Out, the strutting Ship Of Lies, the incendiary Start The Show, the whiplash riff of Flaunt It and the call to unity of Let's Rock Together.

Admittedly, it's nothing you won't expect here but the difference between Danko and the countless numbers of empty '70s revivalists doing the rounds on the rock circuit is that they attack these songs with an energy and aggression that'd be impressive in a band two decades younger. It's telling that Raise Some Hell includes the line "I'm sick of watchin' Nickelback sitting on the fence!". Power Trio, as befits its name, packs such a punch that you can't help but sit up and take notice. Definitely a very worthwhile addition to Danko's impressive back catalogue.

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)