The Toadies brand new album, "No Deliverance," has everything you would come to expect from a new disc by them. There are the raw destructive rockers, the sing-a-long tales, the bitter love songs, and the usual Toadies mysterious creepiness. After seven years since their last album was released on Interscope Records, the Toadies, have reunited, reformed, and signed with the independent Kirtland Records. Home to the Burden Brothers, lead singer Vaden Todd Lewis' band during the Toadies time broken up, Kirtland allows the Toadies to create the music they want, without forcing them to recreate another "Possum Kingdom". The freedom is best seen on "No Deliverance" in the heavy southern vibes thrown into the usual Toadies mix.
The album opens with the powerful, hard charging, "So Long Lovey Eyes". This song delivers what all Toadies fans have been waiting for since their break-up, pure straight ahead rock fury. Aggressive and overwhelmingly melodic at the same time, this song proves that not too much has changed, and that is a great thing. Rock radio needs a band like the Toadies to create uncompromising music that is still easily accessible upon the very first listen. Soaring walls of distorted guitars lead the bridge in what will hopefully be the second single from the album. "Nothing to Cry About," is another track that could have been taken right from Rubberneck, yet still has a fresh sound to it. The Toadies haven't lost their stride one bit, and are eager to prove so. They have crafted hard rocking tunes that, imagine this, are fun to listen to. The energetic bursts of melody pull together their signature mix of over-driven guitar bursts and Pixies influenced rock. "No Deliverance," is the first taste of the new southern swagger these Texas boys are proudly sporting, and it sounds great. With a bluesy introduction sound, Vaden brings back the beloved "bullet mic" on the head spinning song. This is the first single from the album, and shows the mix of the old with the new, without changing their sound too much.
"I am a Man of Stone," starts off with another blues style riff before the crunching guitars kick in for what should be a radio staple. Vaden's bitter break-up lyrics are at the top of his game, as is his incredible voice. I personally love the line, "You said baby don't change, and I did not change". The delivery of these vocals with the heavy thud of the drums creates another sure to be classic track from the Toadies. "Song I Hate," is an infectious track that will burrow itself into your head and stay there for days on end. Vaden's mood changes from bitter to remorseful when he reminisces on the love he can't stand, but can't seem to pull away from. To anyone that has ever been in this situation, this song will pull you into it's sing-a-long quality with its very simple and memorable song writing. "Flower," picks up the aggression a bit, with the Toadies creating another song that makes you question, is this a love song or something dark and perverse? Just like the previous tracks "Tyler," and "Jigsaw Girl," this song starts off sounding like a love song before revealing to be more in the vain of a creepy stalker singing it. Toadies have mastered these tracks, by the use of varying lines such as, "My love, you're so beautiful, like a flower" in the beginning to "I wanna know what you look like when you're sleeping" at the end, rapidly changing the mood.
"Hell in High Water," is another southern stomp of a song. This song seems to have a heavy Texas chug to it, with shifting rhythms and pulsing guitars. The lyrics have a dark sexual nature to them, think Possum Kingdom, but with a ZZ Top influence mixed in for variety. This is Toadies making evil music fan again, as only they can do. "Don't Go My Way," is another cautionary tale set to their amazing song writing skills. The guitar moves in waves, complimented by the subtle but driving bass line. The extended musical solos are incredible with guitars that lead in every direction without taking away from the sound. "One More" is a deeply lyrical song with pain and anguish that leaks not only from the vocals but the slow plodding guitars and bass, reminiscent of the incredible "Doll Skin." Toadies build a strong riff that works effectively in place of a chorus to move the story throughout the track. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album, and I think it will only grow on me more and more with each listen. As the song dips further into despair, the intensity is slowly increased until the end. "I Want Your Love," the album closer, is more demanding then it is loving, and closes out the album much in the manner that "Mexican Hairless" and "Mister Love" opens Rubberneck, a short blast of unapologetic aggressive rock.
Thank God that the Toadies are back! No Deliverance proves they still have all the style and grace that accompanies their agression and power. Toadies set out to do one thing, kick-ass, and they succeed in every possible way. This is one of those albums that is so great, you can already tell that your favorite tracks on it are going to change back and forth with repeat listens. No Deliverance is such a welcome, explosive, and enjoyable listen, you're going to want to start it over the moment it ends. Make sure to catch them on their extensive U.S. tour running through the end of November.
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