Release date: March 1, 2016
Running time: 48:06, 11 tracks
Rusty Nail, the band from St. Louis, have just delivered their third album: “Bitter Ale, Bitter Heart” The core of the band remains the same, Alvan Caby (mandolin, guitar and vocals), Kelly LaRussa (violin), Chad Ross (guitar, banjo, dulcimer, accordion, bouzouki, ebow and organ) and Chris Otto (Irish whistle and native American flutes) while the new members are Pete McAvity on electric guitar, Mark Hochberg on bass and Dennis Frentzel on drums.
The “inspiration thanks” on “Bitter Ale, Bitter Heart” give a hint to understand the bands’ sound: Dropkick Murphys, The Pogues, Flogging Molly, The Tossers and Black Sabbath. There are quite a few Celtic punk numbers, mainly at the beginning of the album, a couple of solid rock tracks and several mature efforts.
The album kicks off with “The Magician”, an amazing number where fiddle, mandolin, banjo and flute are perfectly backed by an excellent rhythm section. On the next track, “Return to the Start”, The Tossers influences can be felt. The mandolin/fiddle duel is just brilliant. And then comes “Giving Up”, the best number on the album and also a The Tossers infused number
“It’s a Shame I did Nothing” is a rocking number with interesting flute arrangements and great performances by guitarist and rhythm section. The next tracks are proof of the band’s songwriting evolution. “Another Story of Unreturned Love” has an infectious theme. “Hardscrabbled Road” starts quietly, but have some fast-paced passages. “Liquid Miracles” is a perfectly written song featuring organ. “Central West End” shifts to the American classic rock universe. And “Mad as Birds” is a gem of a song, the best song together with “Giving Up”.
The “inspiration thanks” on “Bitter Ale, Bitter Heart” give a hint to understand the bands’ sound: Dropkick Murphys, The Pogues, Flogging Molly, The Tossers and Black Sabbath. There are quite a few Celtic punk numbers, mainly at the beginning of the album, a couple of solid rock tracks and several mature efforts.
The album kicks off with “The Magician”, an amazing number where fiddle, mandolin, banjo and flute are perfectly backed by an excellent rhythm section. On the next track, “Return to the Start”, The Tossers influences can be felt. The mandolin/fiddle duel is just brilliant. And then comes “Giving Up”, the best number on the album and also a The Tossers infused number
“It’s a Shame I did Nothing” is a rocking number with interesting flute arrangements and great performances by guitarist and rhythm section. The next tracks are proof of the band’s songwriting evolution. “Another Story of Unreturned Love” has an infectious theme. “Hardscrabbled Road” starts quietly, but have some fast-paced passages. “Liquid Miracles” is a perfectly written song featuring organ. “Central West End” shifts to the American classic rock universe. And “Mad as Birds” is a gem of a song, the best song together with “Giving Up”.
The album ends up with "The Nightmare Will Prevail", a song with interesting mandolin arrangements.
“Bitter Ale, Bitter Heart” is housed in a four panel digipack. There is plenty of information (band’s pic, line-up, song credits, studio credits and thank yous, including a Special thanks to Samuel L. Jackson), but no lyrics to the songs. All lyrics have been written by Alvan Caby, except “Hard Scrabble Road”, by Chris Otto, and “Central West End” by Chris Otto and Alvan Caby. Multi-instrumentalist Chad Ross recorded and mixed the album, while Brad Somo (Blue Jade Audio) was in charge of the mastering.
Rusty Nail have released their most mature effort to date. And no cover or Irish standard can be found on “Bitter Ale, Bitter Heart”, only self-penned songs. Congrats guys (and girl)!
Tracklist:
01 - The Magician 3:45 (Click to listen)
02 - Return to the Start 3:51
03 - Giving Up 5:16
04 - Less Than Angels 4:28
05 - It's a Shame I Did Nothing 5:12
06 - Another Story of Unreturned Love 2:09
07 - Hardscrabble Road 4:18
08 - Liquid Miracles 3:24
09 - Central West End 5:38
10 - Mad as Birds 5:16 (Click to listen)
11 - The Nightmare Will Prevail 4:50
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Review by Kinksmarkham
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