Straight off the bat, this album represents a style that isn’t on Ave Noctum’s playlists and is also different to what one might usually see on this label’s roster. However, the folks over at Listenable Records sent a copy over so we gave it a spin anyway. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing to deride here, it’s just we generally cover the more extreme end of the metal spectrum and the only extreme thing here is that we’re actually reviewing an album from above the Earth’s crust. Anyhoo, I digress…My Dynamite hail from Melbourne, Australia and “Otherside” is their second release. There’s been plenty for the band to crow about having provided support for Lynyrd Skynyrd a couple of years back and they’ve garnered the attention of some highly respected music press so they’re doing something right.
The album itself offers up a variety of moods and kicks off with plenty of bluesy boogie on “Round The Bend”. The opener touches on those soulful country/blues rock explorations of late Led Zeppelin which then found further commercial success in bands like The Black Crowes. The real hip shaking stuff has plenty of slide guitar and harmonica and a definite authenticity to their sound. The vocals are very much in the Steve Marriott style and it’s easy to see why they’ve made a name for themselves in the genre.
The album’s mid-section is peppered with slow, reflective and sometimes melancholy pieces that have that rootsy aura of The Band. The Middle America religious reflections are there in the 70’s style country rock expressions and we have enough of a peace and love thing going on to even please Ned Flanders. There’s plenty of emotion and soul in the delivery with elements of a Jimmy Barnes-esque howl but it’s the more rock oriented numbers that feel more alive and the band’s strengths come through. The highlight track for yours truly is “Motortalkin'” which has a high stepping, heavy funk rock punch under wailing vocals that will likely make fans of Deep Purple Mk III and IV take some notice. Quickly followed by the Led Zep swagger of the title track, this would personally have felt like a solid way to close out the album. Instead, the 60’s folk tinged “Don’t Steal The Light” floats proceedings to a close in a reflective haze that feels like it might have been better suited earlier in the track listing.
My Dynamite have definitely honed their skills. They’re a tight unit and there’s an obvious cohesion between them. The performances from each of the members is very tidy and there’s no faulting the warmth of the production. For fans of soul and blues flavoured rock this is worth checking out.
(7/10 Johnny Zed)
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