About 15 years ago, THE ANSWER were considered the great hope in Hard Rock. Slots as an opener for AC/DC or WHITESNAKE and concerts in front of up to 50,000 people all over the world followed. With a record deal on a major label in the bag, it seemed only a matter of time before THE ANSWER headlined the arenas of this world. It turned out differently and probably one or the other musician’s dream burst. Seven years after “Solar” there is a new disc called “Sundowners”.
Is “Sundowners” THE ANSWER’s nightcap?
Translated, Sundowners means something like sundowner or nightcap, i.e. a drink that concludes the day’s work. THE ANSWER finished with big ambitions. The new disc dispenses with radio-ready refrains and comes across as downright odd at times. It seems as if THE ANSWER are now realizing the music that the band wanted to make but didn’t do for marketing reasons.
The title track “Sundowners” with a running time of more than six minutes opens the LP. Heavy riffs and idiosyncratic vocals by Cormac Neeson rain down on the audience. THE ANSWER also do without a catchy chorus, so that the track reminds of bluesy numbers from, for example THE BLACK CROWES remind. “Blood Brother” was previously released as a single. The heavy riffs remain, the background clapping and the effects from the drums loosen up the number a bit.
On “Sundowners” THE ANSWER move in the field of tension between Blues Rock and Hard Rock. What numbers like “California Rust”, “Want You To Love Me” or “Oh Cherry” have in common is the lack of a big refrain. The focus when listening shifts from the vocals to the strong instrumental fraction of the band.
“No Salvation” starts with a harmonica, it’s more acoustic and the blues rock track is dominated by Neeson. THE ANSWER 2023 can also create catchy songs. “Cold Heart” or “Livin’ On The Line” would have been in every hit parade in the 80s. Acoustically, “Always Alright” starts and increases in the further course to a small highlight as the end of “Sundowners”.
THE ANSWER deliver Hard Rock with 80s flair
With “Sundowners” THE ANSWER don’t deliver a nightcap, but rather a pick-me-up for people with a preference for hard rock with 80s flair. The great radio-ready melodies seem a thing of the past. But the instrumental fraction increases. It starts with the strong string work on the title track and ends with “Always Alright”, where THE ANSWER have pressed a versatile and varied track onto the disc. People who like guitar-heavy, high-quality Hard Rock should definitely check out THE ANSWER’s new work.
