Being a metal album reviewer isn’t exactly the “happiest” job. Well, for me it is, because I absolutely love this music, but I’m talking about the music I review itself. Whether it be the goriness of death metal, angst of grindcore, evil of black metal, or soul crushing misery of doom metal, there isn’t much light or happiness to be found. So when I came across the debut album from Freeroad, Do What You Feel!, it immediately caught my attention. Not only does the band’s name and album title exude happiness, but can you think of anything more cheerful than a butt-naked man jumping for joy in front of a mountain? I can’t.
Unsurprisingly, the music that makes up Do What You Feel! matches the energy of its accompanying title and cover art. With one foot set in the heavy 70s nostalgia of Thin Lizzy, UFO, and Blue Öyster Cult, and the other set in the glory days of the NWOBHM, Freeroad have managed to make a traditional metal album that doesn’t come off as yet another copy and paste Priest/Maiden bore-fest. It should also be noted that, English as they sound at times, these dudes hail from Mexico. Or as Tony Soprano would sing, “South of the Border”. So yeah, shoutout to Mexico!
Do What You Feel! opens with a spot-on slab of Thin Lizzy worship in its title track. From the riffs and solos, to the groove and mood, there’s no denying Philo is smiling down from rock n’ roll heaven upon hearing this one. Cuts like “Rock Chaser” and “Pray for the King” channel the earliest days of the NWOBHM. The production is raw and the riffs are rough and ready, but there’s still a distinct emphasis on melody and jamming characteristic of the 70s. One can draw comparisons to Diamond Head and Witchfynde. Meanwhile, “Movin’ On” is about as fast and breakneck as traditional metal can get before going full blown speed metal.
“Nature of Change” slows things down to a rollicking 70s shuffle with lumbering riffs and smoking twin guitar harmonies. I look forward to adding it to my summer driving playlist. “Five Hours to Mexico” boasts a strong rock n’ roll spirit in the vein of Motörhead, headbanging and fist pumping galore, while “Liar” and “Nobody Listens, the Psychonaut” showcase pseudo-prog depth with jazzy passages and intricate musicianship. Closing it all out is “Twilight Row”: A retro metal opus on which atmosphere is key. Its trippy synths, precise twin guitars, and yes, cowbell-laden drumming, would have you think this was the second coming of BÖC.
There’s no denying that Freeroad has a long, bright road ahead of them. Not only that, but there isn’t anything on this album I would change or that I feel they could do better. Their knack for catchy hooks and locked-in musicianship is on par with prime Thin Lizzy and Cheap Trick, and that’s not praise I hand out lightly. If I play Do What You Feel! loud enough, something tells me the snow outside my window will melt. Hey, one can dream!
8 out of 10
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
For fans of: Thin Lizzy, Diamond Head, Riot