The long awaited successor to Rival Sons’ critically acclaimed Great Western Valkyrie is released on 10 June 2016.

Hollow Bones is the band’s fifth album and is released on Earache Records.

When Rival Sons decided to step into the studio everything was accomplished at quite some pace. They took a mere three weeks to record Hollow Bones at Nashville’s LCS Studio under the watchful eye of Grammy award winning producer Dave Cobb.

The album opens with Hollow Bones Pt1. Similar to the approach taken with Manifest Destiny on Head Down in 2012, Hollow Bones Pt 2 will appear later in the record. Instantly recognisable as Rival Sons, this is quite a short blues-influenced track. Short and sweet but sure to be a crowd favourite in the live arena.

Tied Up has already featured on the recent live sets across Europe. This track is bold with an edge of gothic menace to it. Filled with deep strong rhythms and a thundering riff, this is one of the album’s highlights. Love it!

Thundering Voices follows with a fabulous riff.  Great bass here too. Stunning vocal performance by Jay Buchanan on this one. A complex track with a delightful haunting edge to it.

Pretty Face brings a change of vibe a couple of tracks further on. Described by the band as an “electrifying anthem” this song is suitably quirky. It’s the epitome of the Rival Sons that the fans have come to know and love over the years.

In contrast, Fade Out is haunting, raw and filled with emotion. Soulful vocals blended with a blues/rock melody. Magnificent performances all round and some beautifully controlled drumming by Michael Miley. Another incredible vocal performance by Jay. Love it!

Black Coffee, a cover of the Humble Pie song, is perhaps a surprising inclusion on Hollow Bones. It was included in the “tour edition” of Great Western Valkyrie but it remains one of my personal favourites. (This should be my anthem considering my own caffeine habit!) Love Scot Holiday’s passionate guitar work on this one.

Hollow Bones Pt 2 follows and brings a contrasting track to Pt1. There’s a hint of spaghetti western at the very start with a smattering of Native American. There’s no denying the Led Zeppelin feel to this one. Hollow Bones Pt 2 is a deeply spiritual tracks, perhaps encapsulating the varying beliefs of the four members of Rival Sons.

The album is brought to a beautifully tender conclusion with the closing track All That I Want. For me personally, this is the star track. It is Jay Buchanan as his finest and rivals the likes of Jordan and Where I’ve Been. This song is truly breath taking. Scot Holiday takes a back seat here with his accompaniment as do his fellow musicians. Their performances are suitably subtle. All That I Want is as emotional a song as it’s possible to hear. I adore it!

With this record Rival Sons have surpassed all my expectations. There is nothing hollow about this album! It is filled to the brim with musical genius.

I can’t wait to hear these songs on the live stage and am now impatiently waiting for news of a UK tour (hint! Hint!)

10/10