Album Review: Leatherjacks - Surviving The Beginning Of The End (Rock 'n' Roll)

Once you start to listen to this album by Leatherjacks you may think that it is indeed the typical Rock 'n' Roll song collection you would expect by them. But it all comes quickly to a change by track number two already. That's the point where I started to realize something different is going on with this one.

Many symbolic elements make this cover one to have a closer look at. 

Having heard this record on my very own just sitting in front of my trusty stereo system made listening to music different.

You just have the music and nothing else around you so you focus more on what's coming out of the speakers. This time it felt like a blessing that's coming my way. 

The beginning of the album with "Who cowers against the law" feels rough and hard. It knocks me out of everyday routine with it's hard hitting refrain and the hacking guitar riffs. But one thing is already evident: the rhythm style is centered in Rock 'n' Roll style.

"Baby Hit and Run" goes a similar route but blazes with more aggressive intensity and a much faster vocals. It presses heavily through the speakers.

If you need air to breathe now hold on - track three gives a lighter feeling also the heavyness in the vocals can be felt. It's a joy to follow the riff packed music with intermissions of lighter music sections.

The air keeps being lighter with the "Mechanimals" rising in the next round. It's a easy rock tune which is fine to enjoy. A solid tune.

"Surviving The Beginning of the End" unfolds as a balanced rocker with a longer refrain. 

If things become too flat for you just go to "Dead and Gone" - here's the full package of agression put into the song. The refrain won't leave your ears and brains for a long time so this is one to remember.

Leatherjacks has always been good for a surprise and "Somehow" needs no drums to still put out a hard rock song and made me curious on how it can be able to move just with guitars present in the music.

So this list is a short look into how the songs of the album sound like. The full record comes with twelve tunes so maybe you'll want to check it all out for yourselves now. Just hit the button on the player below. Mauro Cordeiro is the head behind the music and the record is available for download for only 10 Euro at the Bandcamp page of the Leatherjacks. 

Album Review: Leatherjacks - Extremly Dangerous (Rock, 2020)

The new record is by far better than the previous effort "The Lost Arks of Rock 'N Roll". What has changed so much?

The coverart invites to think about it's meaing, It was done by bandhead Mauro Cordeiro.

Sound
First of all it's the sound and production. It comes around much more clearer and sharper. This adds a lot to the pleasure of listening. All instruments rush loud and clear through my speakers. The vocals are set a bit louder on the overall mixing, that's something some people may not like that much.

Songstructures
The next point are the far more easy soundstructures. In times of complexity and overload we're living in it's a pleasure to relax and rock out to something straight from the first listen. It helps to breathe fresh air into my soul. In many parts the straight material on the record feels like classic Rock tunes but with a far more finetuned level when it comes to playing the songs on guitars.

Also at times you may first think that some tracks like the title track "Extremly Dangerous" may be held in a way too simple style but beware. I had a look upon the preview video to the album on the Leatherjacks Facebook page and it revealed that a lot of skill is needed to fullfill the guitar parts used on this tune.

Fun-Factor
All tracks come with great hooklines and fine outworked melodies as well as decent placed riffs in them. The music never get's to one-dimensional or monotone, they it always moves onwards.

The songs never get boring but there is always this itch of wanting to listen to one more song. Not many records have this on board. I think this stems of the pleasure the artist is able to transport through the music over to the reviewer and hopefull you, too.

Purchase and Contact Link
Finally please support the brasilian band with a purchase. Artists are faced with many costs they need to pay in advance of album releases. It's not easy at all to get that money together. In the end your money can help a artist to be able to release new tunes that in the end give you fresh joy. I think it's more important than ever before in these uncertain times.

"Extremly Dangerous" is set for release on 10th April 2020. Proper information on how to pick up a copy will be spread the coming days on the official Leatherjacks Facebook page. 

Here are some snippets out of the new release.

Single Review: LeatherJacks - Spells and zombies through the night (2018)

If you need music that grab's you directly at heart take this fresh single from brasilian rockers LeatherJacks to bring in a dose of energy that lift's you up.

The cover of LeatherJacks single release "Spells and zombies through the night", (c) by LeatherJacks, used with kind permission

Summary
This band is lead by Mauro Cordeiro. His outstanding and always changing vocal performance along with a good potion of riffs creates this special atmosphere being present in the music of LeatherJacks. Having put together a full album and one more single this new piece of music was expected eagerly by me. How would the music evolve further?

It remained the same as it goes for the main attempt at it's core being full blown rock music. But it comes infused with modern techniques in songwriting at least when it comes to the first number "Spells and zombies through the night". This time around the vocals go all on it throughout the whole track duration. The refrain is integrated into the overall sound structures. You can think of this as a feeling being created out of one piece.

The voice shouts it out more agressively in the verses but keeps it softer when it's time for the refrain. Guitarwise this one nails it down with heavier riffs compared to the slightly older material available so far. The drums follow this idea with's it attacking double-bass pattern. The refrain parts are kept longer and more extensive something not be found too often in rock and metal music.

Next to go is the track "Persona non grata". This nearly five minute long song fires way around with a easier mix of riff and drumming. It's way more melodic and catchy. The refrain stands out with it's extra punch it provides towards the end. It's for sure a track you'll remember once heard and will want to enjoy times again. Happily it's part of this single package release already.

Purchase-Link and Preview-Track
Currently the single is up for purchase at iTunes and Amazon.

Paying a little for this helps the band to record more music for you in the near future. So in the end spending some bucks is a investment into your own music world - it rewards you like a plant. Once you care for it it may pay you back with lot's of joy with more flowers that it spreads. Check out the title track below to get a quick taste of the band's sound.

Connect with LeatherJacks
Keep a eye on LeatherJacks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.