Canadian quartet Monster Truck have returned with new album Warriors (BMG). This is their fourth record and the title track kicks things off in fine fashion – it is a bouncy number with retro, eighties-era Iron Maiden guitar harmonies provided by guest axeman Dave Baksh of Sum 41 fame. This track sticks to Truckers tried and tested formula, fuzz drenched southern rock with chunky riffs, catchy choruses and chant along backing vocals that do not outstay their welcome. 

This recipe served them well on 2018 predecessor True Rocker and the same is true here, as the propulsive, no nonsense boogie of ‘Golden Women’ shows. Perhaps the best taster of this is ‘Fuzz Mountain’, a Black Sabbath inspired chugger which is helped along by the insistent background hum of keys. 

Their brand of rock is not complicated but like steak and chips, when done right there ain’t nothing like it. The hard rocking ‘Get My Things and Go’ – featuring Black Stone Cherry‘s Chris Robertson, a soaring solo and a stomping beat – is just this and very easy to like. The fast paced ‘Wild Man’, with its big chorus and Thin Lizzy-esque guitar melodies is short, sweet and all wrapped up in under three minutes. ‘Country Livin’, with its relaxed groove, gives off the whisky drenched vibes of a group from Georgia not one from the great white north. The same is true of the radio friendly ode a simple life ‘Love and Time’, with Jon Harvey‘s powerful, Sammy Hagar-like vocals going down a treat.  

Only two tracks do not really hit the mark, the mid paced and slightly plodding ‘Live Free’ and the not bad but unremarkable final track ‘Still Got Fire’, though the rest of the record is a great example of modern southern rock from a band that have truly hit their stride.

Buy the album here: https://monster-truck.lnk.to/WarriorsPR

8 / 10

THOMAS THROWER