Lightbringer is the sequel to Darkfighter, both albums from Rival Sons and released just 6 months apart, both featuring the striking tiger on the cover, and this latest starting off with the title track "Darkfighter" which of course wasn't on the album of the same name. Darkfighter was also perhaps a bit darker and harder rocking than this set, but both deliver an equal amount of quality music. "Darkfighter" was a great choice of an opener, at nearly 9-minutes long it hits the listener with folky blues, some fuzz laden bombast, a little Led Zeppelin here, some Black Crowes there, a touch of Free, but ultimately it's all Rival Sons. Great vocals, great guitars (check out that acoustic solo!), a nice organ jaunt, and layers of drums. Killer opener. "Mercy" is dripping with fuzzy, psychedelic retro sounds, a killer chorus, and man, those drums are just nailing it. "Redemption" slows things down, a heart tugging emotional roller coast ride into the Sons brand of blues, Jay Buchanan once again showing why he is one of the best singers out there today. One of my favorites here is "Sweet Life", barely over three minutes long but chock full of late '60s psych & garage rock, easily the most rousing track on the album, and it's followed by the atmospheric "Before the Fire", complete with hints of epic Zeppelin and U2, and the gut wrenching closer "Mosaic", the latter one of the band's crowning achievements. In a perfect world, "Mosaic" is a tremendous success, and I could even see an artist like Adelle covering this song and taking it to worldwide acclaim. The chorus is just dazzling, and Jay knocks it out of the park.
Different than Darkfighter, but no less remarkable, Lightbringer gives Rival Sons 2023's best 1-2 punch, and takes us back to a time, roughly 50 years ago, when some of the greatest rock bands in the world cranked out two classic albums in a single calendar year. This band is the torchbearer for true rock 'n' roll folks.
Track Listing
1) Darkfighter
2) Mercy
3) Redemption
4) Sweet Life
5) Before the Fire
6) Mosaic
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