‘Shake The Roots’ is the fifth album by blues rockers Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown. It also marks a new phase in the career of the band, as it is the first recorded and released independently on their own record label, Rattle Shake Records.
Going independent gave the band more creative control over ‘Shake The Roots’ and the inspiration to make the music the band knows their fans want to hear. The results are immediately clear from first listen as the band tears into the opening track, ‘Bare Bones’. It’s a raucous resonator based country blues stomp. That features searing slide guitar complete with a catchy chorus that grabs the attention of the listener right away.
Recorded in Bryant’s home studio in Nashville, ‘Shake The Roots’ perfectly encapsulates the sound of Southern Rock, blues and country with spacious production that allows the sound to stay earthy with an analogue sound.
‘Roots’ and ‘Nashville’ both sound as if they were lifted straight off an Allman Brothers Band or Lynyrd Skynyrd album, and such is the quality of both songs, they could have sat easily on albums by both bands at their peak. Lead single of the album, ‘Aint None Watered Down’ with its roots based raw uncompromising sound sums up the band’s attitude to their music perfectly.
Fuzzy guitars, driving beats and grungy riffs lead the listener headlong into the rock based ‘Ghostrider’ and ‘Shackles’, leaving the listener in no doubt of Bryant’s rock roots, but it the ability to switch tone and deliver the earnest semi-acoustic heartfelt blues of ‘Hard Learned’ that defines the Bryant and the band as musicians who can not only rock, but delivery empathy as well.
‘Shake The Roots’ is a thrilling listen from start to finish. Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown have curated a majestic mix of rock and blues, inspired by their own influences and delivered a masterpiece of an album.