“Rock and Awe” is the follow up album to 2004’s “Mouthful Of Love” for the Austin, Texas based band, Young Heart Attack. The debut album led to some early success with the single “Tommy Shots” reaching  No 2 in the British Rock chart and tours where they opened for the likes of Motorhead, Jet and The Darkness, saw Young Heart Attack build a strong following in the UK and Australia. However, internal problems led to limited activity during 2005 and early 2006, resulting in what amounted to a virtual break up. 

However, by the summer of 2006 former keyboard player, Paul Etheredge (now on Bass) and Chris Hodge (Vocals & Guitar) started meeting up again and slowly songs started to materialise. Other members also started to contribute with the other lead singer, Jennifer Stephens,  being brought into the writing process for the first time and Chris Smith (Lead Guitar) getting involved in both writing and production of the new material. By mid-2007 things were starting to come together once again and the addition of Jayson Altman on drums finally got the band back on the gigging circuit and eventually led to a deal with UK based Not On Your Radio for the release of “Rock and Awe”. 

It’s been a tough road getting to the second album release but maybe that’s what makes this such a worthy addition to anyone’s music collection. Young Heart Attack are certainly not an easy band to pigeon hole, initially the vocal style lies somewhere between White Stripes and even the B52’s, depending who is singing but that’s way too much of a  generalisation as on some songs neither apply. Musically, it is pure rock with some excellent and varied guitar work throughout, underpinned by some frantic drumming and bass work. Opener “Rock and Awe” begins with almost punk like speed drumming, leading into a cracking little guitar riff and a punchy vocal delivery, although it did take me a couple of listens to get into Hodge’s vocal style. 

The frantic pace and energy is maintained with Stephens' leading the vocal attack on “Hell on Earth” and “Munki”, which has an AC/DC kind of feel to the guitar sound. There’s nothing too complicated about the early songs but a slowing of the pace and change of direction for “Jump Into The Picture” sees the band really start to excel for me. Hodge knocks the vocal down a notch and actually sounds far better on what amounts to a great piece of southern rock, that musically wouldn’t have been out of place on an early Black Crowes release. This is followed by an equally strong performance from Stephens as she leads the way through “I Love This Town”, rebelling against the relentless search for fame and fortune at all costs in today’s society. 

The album gets stronger with every song and each seems to offer something different, either in the guitar sound or in the versatility of the vocal delivery brought about by varying who leads and who backs. Young Heart Attack make this work very well, “Jackboot Goons” and “Drums and Revolution” both being excellent examples. Overall this is an album well worth investigating and it’s one that I have enjoyed more with every listen.

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Track Listing

Rock And Awe
Hell On Earth
Munki
Runaway
Jump Into The Picture
I Love This Town
Vacant Love
Jackboot Goons
Welcome to My World
Drums Of Revolution
Good Love

Line Up

Chris Hodge – Vocals/Guitar
Jennifer Stephens – Vocals
Paul Etheredge – Basss
Chris Smith – Guitar
Jayson Altman – Drums