From the coastal dunes of
Virginia, Freedom Hawk returns on September 23rd with their sixth
LP, Take All You Can, via the mighty Ripple
Music, and it’s a doozy! What better way to end the summer and welcome autumn
than with this near-legendary quartet’s unique brand of ‘70s hard rock/’80s
metal. The band has evolved and really come into its own since their 2008 debut
Sunlight. Time has really flown by; it’s
hard to believe that Freedom Hawk has already been around for 17 years!
Take
All You Can is like a popsicle on a hot summer day, a refreshing
relief that makes you smile and bob your head along throughout its duration. It
blew me away on first spin and on every subsequent replay. This is a heavy rock
record that hits all the right notes, folks. From the catchy opener and single,
“Age of the Idiot”, the classic rock tone is set for the rest of the album with
vocals that channel the best of Sabbath-era Ozzy at times. The title track
follows with major riffage and a terrific guitar solo; one of the highlights of
the LP and runner-up for my personal favorite song. “We All Need Rock ‘N’ Roll”
will conquer listeners with its soulful vibe, southern feel, and serves as a
great ode to this beloved genre of music. “Seize the Day” is a splendid song,
another one of the singles on an album where, honestly, any song could have
been a single. A slower-paced tune with shades of Zep and Sabbath thrown in for
good measure. We go back to a fast and furious pace for the stellar “Never to Return”,
followed by “From the Inside Out” which draws inspiration from the ‘70s for a
standout track and another of my personal faves. “Skies So Blue” evokes the
warmth of the beach; a groovy tune with plenty of cool guitar licks. Just when
you think this LP can’t get any better, “Comin’ Home” hits and builds to a
powerful crescendo. It may very well be the best song of the record, I can’t
decide. “Desert Song” is a superb closer with great use of keys and ends the
set with imagery of hazy, desert-hot days.
The band sounds more relaxed and confident
than ever on this release. I’ve had time to take the record for more than a few
spins during my vacation so it’s not recency bias when I say that I believe
this is their strongest effort to date. Not a single dud here, a pitch-perfect
album in every way, shape, and form and a phenomenal album-of-the-year
contender. On September 23rd, don’t hesitate to pick up this gem of
an album. It’s also a great starting point for the uninitiated that will most
likely make you a Freedom Hawk fan for life. Whether you’re into heavy rock, classic
rock or metal, there’s plenty to love in this 9-song set.
Ripple Music’s Freedom Hawk Bandcamp Page: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/take-all-you-can
Freedom Hawk on Bandcamp: https://freedomhawk.bandcamp.com/
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