Having last ventured over to Europe as support to Slash on his “World on Fire” , back in November 2014 (see review here), the guys are back with an album that is packed full swagger, attitude and bar-room-brawling Hard-Rock. If you’re not convinced, just check out the complements that the band have been receiving from some of planet Rock royalty below! “Sittin’ Heavy” will be unleashed upon the globe on February 19th and will no doubt penetrate the very beating heart of the global Rock community, especially during a time when the greats of the business are hanging up their boots (Black Sabbath, AC/DC).
It sure is a comforting thought to know that Monster Truck are here to keep the fires burning!
“Monster Truck is one of the few really great down to earth rock ‘n’ roll bands… they’re hard, soulful and heavy” – Slash
“Monster Truck is the Real deal. Familiar. Comfortable. Like an old pair of gig boots or sweaty pig sex with an ex- girlfriend.” – Mike Inez (Alice in Chains)
“Holy Fuck, this band rocks” Dee Snider
‘Killer band, great guitar playing” Dave Navarro
The new album will be release via their new home of Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group (Black Stone Cherry, Black Label Society, Joe Bonamassa) for Europe and Dine Alone Records for the rest of the World.
“Sittin’ Heavy” is 11 tracks of high-octane, foot to the floor, raucous rock that picks up from where 2013s incredible Juno Award nominated Furiosity left off. For the past two years since the debut dropped they have been hell-bent on putting Hamilton, Ontario on the rock ‘n’ roll map as they have, in true road warrior style, relentlessly been tearing through Europe, the US and Canada opening for the mighty; Gun’s n Roses, Slash, Alice in Chains, ZZ Top, Buckcherry, Rival Sons and Vista Chino, as well as stepping up for blistering sets at the UKs Hammerfest and Download Festival.
The Juno award winning, Eric Ratz returns as their sounding board, studio guru and co-producer; with a track record that includes Billy Talent, Three Days Grace and Cancer Bats, Ratz’ studio wizardry is displayed sublimely on Sittin’ Heavy and must surely mark him out as a future heavyweight.
The new offering is a gloriously cathartic statement that retains all of the ingredients that enabled Monster Truck to break out of the box; groove, sludge, stoner rock, grunge and vintage sounds all swirl around in a colossal melting pot that continues their evolution and expands upon ideas established from their inception.
The months on the road has served to improve them as a band, just as it should, fundamentally because they looked around and learned. “Touring the last record we’ve been privileged to play with a lot of great headlining acts,” says guitarist Jeremy Widerman.
“For instance, when we opened for Slash we would pick up on how accurately he controls the Wah pedal, and we wanted to include some of that in our own songs. Or touring with Alice In Chains and watching their vocal harmonies and realising that we needed to strengthen up in that area – so we did. There are so many little ways to hone our sound.”
If the album has a theme, it would be a steadfast refusal to be beaten down. Lead track Don’t Tell Me How To Live has been unanimously welcomed as a rallying cry. Inspired by a comment made by singer and bassist Jon Harvey’s girlfriend – “She started giving me trouble for playing guitar every day and I replied, ‘This is my job, don’t tell me how to live’” – its message holds true in a variety of situations. “The song is about being independent in one’s life, rather than worrying about what people think or the expectations of other people; just be true to yourself.” “Rock ‘n’ roll should be a celebration,” Harvey believes. “We try to do that as much as we can. Everything in life should be a celebration.”
Monster Truck are: Jon Harvey (Vocals & Bass), Jeremy Widerman (Guitar & Vocals), Brandon Bliss (Organ & Vocals),Steve Kiely (Drums & Vocals)
To order your copy of “Sittin’ Heavy”, just click on the graphic link below!
Monster Truck – Sittin’ Heavy Tracklist Extra info
01. Why Are You Not Rocking?
02. Don’t Tell Me How to Live
03. She’s a Witch
04. For the People
05. Black Forest
06. Another Man’s Shoes
07. Things Get Better
08. The Enforcer
09. To The Flame
10. New Soul
11. Enjoy the Time
Vinyl-only bonus track: Midnight
For more information on Monster Truck, just select one of the following links;
www.mascotlabelgroup.com ilovemonstertruck.com
facebook.com/ilovemonstertruck Twitter.com/monster_truck_
instagram.com/ilovemonstertruck youtube.com/user/ilovemonstertruck
Post – Oran O’Beirne
© OVERDRIVE 2016
