Northern Irish rockers The Answer make a very welcome return to the scene after a hefty hiatus, a seven-year itch in fact kept the guys away from us for way too long, but now thankfully they are once again ready to spread their unholy gospel to the masses.
The album was recorded in April 2023 at Middlefarm studios, Devon and was the first time the band had been together in a studio since 2015. Says lead singer Cormac Neeson, “We’ve been through a lot as a band, toured the world, made six great records we’re all proud of, and always done our best to make honest and timeless music that connects with rock and music fans in general. After six albums and a lot of road miles, we felt we needed to step back from it all and reset. Whilst that wasn’t an easy decision, with retrospect it’s possibly the best decision we’ve ever made because after seven years away we all came back fired up and the end result is an album we’ve been waiting to make our whole lives…full of good time rock n roll and positive energy created by four brothers who quite frankly just really missed each other. We’re back and ready to bring you our best album ever!”
That is quite the statement, and he’s not wrong, from the outside looking in, our perspective on a band is very different from being in that bubble, living it day in and day out and I am sure eventually cracks can form and time on the road and the pressures placed on you will ultimately weigh you down unless you make that conscious call to take a step back. So refreshed and hungry once again the band got back into the studio to produce an album of real quality, a beautifully cohesive collection of tracks that are dripping in classic-rock sonic goodness. It is like stepping back in time, and with the vocal quality and unique tones of Cormac Neeson you can help but applaud what they have created. The musicianship across this recording is just sublime.
It’s a foot-stomping, air-guitar-raging, sonic rollercoaster that will take you on the ride of your life, the fuzz-laden, blues and soul-infused songwriting that has so many subtle nuances running throughout is a joy to the senses, you can lose yourself in this beauty rocking your little socks off dancing around the kitchen or office as these earworms embed themselves deep in your brain.
The album is a full tour-de-force right up to ‘No Salvation’ before it allows you to catch your breath, with a sultry beauty that showcases the quality of this band once again. You won’t be sitting down long as the guys rip your face off with a killer collection of tracks to bring you to the album’s finale in ‘Always Alright’ which is a retrospective number to bring it all home the only way The Answer knows how. If for any reason you were wondering if after such a long wait should you revisit The Answer,
Well, the answer to that question is an almighty hell yeah!
Sundowners is a stunning album from start to finish, with the best in blues, rock, gospel, and southern rock you’ll find. There isn’t a bad track on this recording and the guys should be immensely proud of what they have achieved, flying that ‘fleg’ for Norn Iron! It is great to have you back.
Sundowners is released tomorrow, Friday, March 17th courtesy of Golden Robot Records & 7Hz
| 01 – Sundowners | 6:32 | |
| 02 – Blood Brother | 3:13 | |
| 03 – California Rust | 3:39 | |
| 04 – Want You To Love Me | 3:22 | |
| 05 – Oh Cherry | 3:43 | |
| 06 – No Salvation | 4:28 | |
| 07 – Cold Heart | 2:54 | |
| 08 – All Together | 2:40 | |
| 09 – Livin’ On The Line | 4:04 | |
| 10 – Get Back On It | 3:12 | |
| 11 – Always Alright | 5:20 |
The album will be released by Golden Robot Records and by licensee 7Hz Productions (ADA) in the UK & Europe. The release will come in several formats including a Cd Gatefold Digi sleeve, Gatefold 12” 180g black vinyl, 2 x 12” colour vinyl exclusives, a 12” fan collectible Picture Disk, Digital and various limited retail exclusive versions with HMV, Rough Trade, Crash and Assai Records.
The Answer will promote their new album release with a run of limited-capacity album launch shows, and tour dates with Oli Brown & The Dead Collective across the UK.
TOUR DATES: UK March 2023
Mar 16th Blackpool, Waterloo Bar
Mar 17th Birmingham O2 Institute.
Mar 19th Bristol Thekla
Mar 20th London 100 Club
Mar 21st Leeds Key Club
Mar 23rd Belfast Limelight 2
www.myticket.co.uk
www.ticketmaster.ie
EUROPE March & April 2023
Mar 25th Haarlem, Patronaat – Holland
Mar 26th Den Bosch, Willem Twee – Holland
Mar 28th Essen, Turock – Germany
Mar 29th Hamburg, Logo – Germany
Mar 30th Berlin, Franz Club – Germany
Mar 31st Munich, Strom – Germany
Apr 1st Dornbirn, Conrad-Sohm, Austria
Apr 2nd Zurich, Plaza – Switzerland
Apr 4th Strasbourg, La Laiterie – France
Apr 5th Savigny, L’Empreinte – France
Apr 6th. Vorselaar, De Dreef – Belgium
https://www.metaltix.com/the-answer-tickets-5493.html#tour1506
https://www.seaside-touring.com/tours/#answer,the
Tickets: www.theanswerrock.com
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/5c90Qv0wkAfHFu243e7qxX
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/blood-brother/1640395077?ls=1
Deezer: www.deezer.com/album/347612407
https://www.theanswerrock.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanswerrock
https://twitter.com/theanswerrocks
https://www.instagram.com/theanswerrock/?hl=en
SPOTIFY