Album Review: Danko Jones - Fire Music

Some may argue they’ve never quite captured the urgency of their frantic, sweaty shows on sauntering into the studio, but Danko Jones’ (ahem) firepower on record remains a viable threat.

Here, punchy riff piles upon punchy riff, fist-pumping hooks are ever-present and freshly recruited drummer Rich Knox lifts the Canucks’ already rollicking energy to new heights.

“I just want loud guitars,” linchpin Jones proclaimed a few years ago – not a mere offhand remark, but non-pretentiously explaining their straightforward modus operandi. The hard-hitting rock trio are blunt in execution, having refined these songs to the extent this LP is done and dusted in little more than 35 minutes. The anthemic Gonna Be A Fight Tonight has been utilised as a World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view theme, but don’t let any aversion to such an association dissuade. The charismatic vocalist is larger than life, this generation’s Paul Stanley, and likeable with a wickedly tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. The brash outfit can back up his smack, though. Few modern rock acts harness a genuine penchant for acknowledging forebears like Thin Lizzy and Motörhead, infectiousness and swagger Viv Richards would approve of. Do You Wanna Rock’s cowbell boogie is instantly appealing, The Twisting Knife channels the Misfits and amusing Getting Into Drugs raises a chuckle.

One wonders if the perennially undervalued Canadians will finally get their due via Fire Music. Irrespective, that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t enjoy ourselves in the meantime.