Rival Sons: Until The Sun Comes – new video & Head Down – full album stream

RIVAL SONS' new video, ‘Until The Sun Comes’, was directed by Simon Gesrel, a prominent stop-motion fanatic who is also known for his work with Academy Award-winning French filmmaker Michel Gondry:

“The video took about six weeks to make, two weeks of prep and four weeks of animation, including three weeks of post-production. This clip has references from “Time Rider” to apocalyptic science-fiction, i.e. “Mad Max”, especially Italian B-movies etc. like “Nuovi Barbari” - sometimes just the posters for these films are great inspiration! … We worked with three different sets, so there were effectively three different bikes and the characters. The set with the girl was shot in live action whereas the other travellings were in stop-motion, image by image. We worked with a naked model covered in glycerin, then covered in sand so the sand stuck. It was hard work despite the presence of a naked lady made of sand. I like playing with clichés (I know you've heard it all before...); it allows us to be direct with formats for a short clip - at the same time I look to remain accessible.  The idea is a meeting of inspiration - a spur of the moment thing, that finishes with a sexual rapport, but I wanted it to remain a clip for everyone; people see what their age permits and it remains fun for everyone,” [explained Simon Gesrel]

‘Until The Sun Comes’ comes from the blues-infused hard rockers' new album ‘Head Down’, issued through Earache Records in September 2012. ‘Head Down’ was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with Grammy-nominated producer Dave Cobb and Grammy-wining engineer Vance Powell. Its artwork was created by Jason Holley. Get your own copy of ‘Head Down’ here (Earache Records Europe) or via iTunes, or pre-order it here (Earache Records USA). The album's physical formats will be released in the USA on January 22nd, 2013. In the meantime, listen to full album below, courtesy the label:

“[Commented guitarist Scott Holiday:] Songs were once again written and recorded on the spot, allowing the listener to really peer in and catch a snapshot of the moment, and our immediate instincts. Most songs were captured in a few takes, not to mention plenty of first-takers. Pretty off the cuff and unadulterated. We have never had a wish to be predictable or sedentary with our music, and this record explores and supports that ethos pretty well. In other words, this record is not ‘Pressure & Time’ [2011], but delves into a bunch of other musical ideas and sounds.”

“California blues-rock quartet RIVAL SONS bemoan the lack of danger in today's rock & roll generation on their Facebook page, a slightly hypocritical viewpoint considering that their third studio album, ‘Head Down’, could have been recorded at any point over the last 40 years. However, their clichéd soundbites aside, there’s much to enjoy on this typically ballsy and no-nonsense follow-up to 2011 breakthrough ‘Pressure & Time’. LED ZEPPELIN fans disappointed by their recent denials of a reunion could do worse than check out the blistering opener ‘Keep On Swinging’ and raucous ‘You Want To’ to get their fix of [Jimmy] Page-inspired classic rock riffs and [Robert] Plant-esque wails,” [is what Jon O’Brian, AllMusic thought – more here:]

 

Formed in 2008 in Los Angeles, RIVAL SONS self-released digital album ‘Before The Fire’ in 2010, signed with Earache Records in fall of the same year, and, following, digitally released self-titled EP (available in its entirety below) via their new label:

“There was just the right amount of audacity and bending of the rules for us to dig the idea of being on a [traditionally] death metal label,” [explained the miracle guitarist Scott Holiday:]

RIVAL SONS wrote, recorded and mixed their debut album ‘Pressure & Time’ in just 20 days to “ensure a rawness for both the listener and the band” as eloquently explained by the band's frontman, Jay Buchanan:

“In the code of the Samurai, any decision must be made between 3 and 5 breaths…  Writing by that code forces us to act, go with our instincts and really, truly listen to each other.  Creatively, you’re bringing your most immediate instincts.” [Apparently, this method of writing is not new to RIVAL SONS, for guitarist Scott Holiday affirmed:] “This is just the simplest way to not cheat ourselves or the listener.  Rock and roll can’t be over-thought, and if it is, it loses its immediacy and instinct… it needs to be a knife fight, not a knife dance.”

Be as it may, the record was produced by Dave Cobb. Listen to the full album here (BandCamp) or below, courtesy Earache Records:

“RIVAL SONS music might be called early or pre-metal. Simply put, RIVAL SONS are a power trio plus singer in the traditional style, who might have made this album after listening to the first LED ZEPPELIN LP over and over for a day or two. … Of course, the band also calls to mind groups of subsequent generations that built on the hard rock sound of the late '60s, such as THE CULT, THE BLACK CROWS, JET and THE WHITE STRIPES. So, anyone who likes that kind of music should overlook the implications of the record label [heh] and check out RIVAL SONS,” [commented William Ruhlmann, AllMusic – more here:]

 

RIVAL SONS features: Jay Buchanan - vocals, Scott Holiday - guitar, Robin Everhart – bass and Michael Miley – drums