#510.7 (Basic California Nation) and #577 (Nation Soul) on the Nation DDS.
Take your self a visit again in time in an avocado inexperienced Chevelle to the second when Jesus freaks, acid testers, and neo folkies all found the virtues of American nation music, and set to contributing to that legacy in intrepid and imaginative methods. That is music to take you again to the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, and the Haight-Ashbury simply earlier than heroin ravaged it, or Laurel Canyon once they acquired clued into Merle Haggard.
Canada’s Metal Saddle reminds you of oldsters like The Flying Burrito Brothers and Jerry Reed, with slightly Canned Warmth, Mason Proffit, and Muscle Shoals soul and horns thrown within the combine. It attracts from a big palette of influences, nevertheless it all matches collectively so seamless when the dimension of period is evoked and marries all of it collectively. It’s each a contemporary sound that’s progressive, whereas nonetheless drawing from classic nostalgia to really feel instantly acquainted.
The unlikely location of Montreal, Québec continues to show itself as a haven and incubator for throwback nation expertise and unbelievable instrumentation. We already gushed over metal guitar participant Ben Vallee’s debut album Introducing... from earlier in 2024. He occurs to be a part of the Metal Saddle outfit as effectively. Vallee’s slightly unbelievable instrumental prowess is matched by lead guitarist Charlie Zucchero and a killer rhythm part that makes the music of Metal Saddle well worth the consideration if nothing else.
Then topping all of it off is major songwriter and lead singer Austin Boylan who brings a blue-eyed soulful supply to this music, finishing the immersive sound. Typically Metal Saddle is straight nation boogie like within the songs “Travelin’ Gentle” and “Donny The Satanist.” At different occasions it’s extra ’60 R&B with metal guitar, just like the tune “Can’t Be Glad” the place Austin Boylan turns into so emotive, he figures out the right way to make the phrase “bag” embody three syllables.
Although some might proclaim this music as cosplay, these Canadian throwback nation freaks positive make it simple to droop disbelief. All the things has that sweaty, soulful, unfastened, funky nation vibe that both true chemistry lends to, or you may’t even attempt to pull off with out falling in your face. The recording is simply distressed sufficient to place you in that traditional temper with out being too irritating to the ear.
It’s honest to marvel if at occasions Metal Saddle tries to get slightly too cute and concerned with the horns and such as a substitute of simply letting the phrases, music, and melody communicate for itself. However you do respect that they went all out on this album versus chopping corners and compromising. Metal Saddle wished to carry a seance for late ’60s nation rock, they usually achieved this with flying burrito colours.
It looks as if all people lately is caught up in reprising nation music’s ’90s and the sound of Brent Mason and Brooks & Dunn. That’s effective and good, however the beauty of nation music is its capability to all the time really feel timeless, whereas affording so many alternative eras and influences to discover and revitalize. Metal Saddle positively does this for late ’60s nation rock to nice success.
8.1/10
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Metal Saddle is Austin Boylan (vocals, acoustic guitar), Coleman Canton (drums, percussion), Nic Energy (piano, organ, vocals), Mackenzie Sawyer (bass), Charlie Zucchero (electrical guitar, vocals), and Ben Vallee (metal guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals).
