Heartless Bastards - Restless Ones

Heartless Bastards
Restless Ones
2015

The idea of a gritty band has always been an appealing one. The band that slugs it out in clubs or bars plying their trade hoping one day to make an impact. Heartless Bastards are the band and Restless Ones is the impact. Heartless Bastard for years have been making music that just never really fit. Their jam band natur seemed to clash with the music they were putting out in albums. However on this record everything fits, it comes together with a blend of grungy rock and a heavy dose of classic Americana. Instead of of a jam band feel you hear the blues, southern rock and other genres come through here. Listening is like taking a step back in time, but not to a specific period but more an overview of what music was and now what it can be.

All the space on Restless Ones is filled with splashy drums and heavily distorted guitar. There really is no feel of slow pacing like they had on previous records, everything is tight and everything has a place. The lyrics also hit on an emotional level as Heartless Bastards deal with Love, loss and death. Erika Wennerstrom's vocals are interesting in an odd kind of way, but Her voice fits so perfectly with the new sound they are exploring that you cannot help but be wrapped up by her. It's not often that a band changes direction and it is met with critical acclaim, but Heartless Bastards have managed to do just that. Restless Ones has sent them down a new and exciting path and it will be interesting to see where they take it from here.

8 out of 10