Riding The Low continues to defy genre with their latest release, The Death Of Gobshite Rambo. The album title is a statement in itself, and the 12-track record backs up the head-turning name as the band balances introspective moments with head-banging beats. Actor, musician and director Paddy Considine recently caught up with Mark Millar on the XS Noize podcast to talk about his latest record ahead of their upcoming April tour dates.
The Death Of Gobshite Rambo opens with “Carapace Of Glass”, one of two singles from the project. The intro is a swell of disorienting flanged guitars as Considine dives straight into this track, singing, “I struggle in relationships / I struggle to be myself.” The simplicity and honesty of the lyrics cut through the record and lays a strong foundation for the song. Considine explores his shortcomings and issues on a bed of steady drums and sparse guitar accompaniment in this number.
“Wake Me Up When It’s Over” follows and steers the record in a heavier direction. With muscular distorted guitars and a faint high-pitched violin countermelody, Considine toys with existentialism in this epic track. The mellow verses are juxtaposed nicely against the uplifting chorus, which has a paradoxical feel. “If these are the best times of our lives / Wake me up when it’s over”, sings Considine. With a phaser-infused acoustic guitar, meandering horn and cryptic voice-over, Riding The Low lead the song to its peak before it ends with one last infectious chorus.
“Live From The Tramp Fights” has a strong classic rock feel as Riding The Low dabbles in the gritty sound purveyed in the ’60s and the heavy ’70s style. Dotted with horns and featuring Considine’s distorted voice, this track is dynamic and diverse. “Tommy Hawk” follows with a distinct blues sound, and a Wild West feel. Creating a fictional character with a play on words on “Tomahawk”, Considine plots the story of a character with questionable morals and a murky past as a passing comment on human nature.
“By-Product of the Last Flats” is one of the most interesting tracks on the record as the band combines grunge and indie with Considine at his most erratic vocally. This makes for an earworm of a track that is as confusing as it is infectious. “Black Mass”, the lead single from the album, dips into the ’90s rock sound for an acoustic song that includes Considine at his most emotionally entrancing.
The title track acts as the penultimate track for this captivating record before “Truth Is All I Have” brings the album to a close with a “lighters in the air” moment. It’s a bona fide festival anthem, complete with an uplifting chorus complemented by the heavy riffing and distorted guitars that give the track an extra dimension.
The Death Of Gobshite Rambo delves into some of Considine’s most dearly-held thoughts and balances his insightful lyrics with hard-hitting rock tunes. It’s the perfect record for late-night listening, and each song has the potential to become a festival staple as we go into the first summer of live music in 3 years.
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