Shotgun Sawyer - Shotgun Sawyer (Album Review)

Release Date: December 04th 2024. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Shotgun Sawyer - Track Listing:

1.Cock N' Bull 03:37

2.Bye Bye Baby Boogie 03:43

3.The Sky is Crying 04:38

4.Isildur's Bane 09:47

5.Master Nasty 05:39

6.Hopeless 03:45

7.Going Down 03:52

8.Tired 04:25

9.That's How it Goes 03:31

Members

Cody Tarbell - Drums

Brett (The Butcher) Sanders - Bass

Dylan Jarman - Vocals/Guitar

Review

Shotgun Sawyer are back with their long awaited new self titled album which is their third overall. The band went on hiatus after the release of their second album with COVID, creative differences with the band and frontman Dylan Jarman stepping away from music for a period of time. Drummer David Lee left and has now been replaced by Slow Season/Westing member Cody Tarbell.

It seems all the trials and tribulations that Shotgun Sawyer have faced over the last years has helped them release their best album to date which was released back in December 2024. The album is a fine collection of songs from the classic heyday of 1970’s Hard Rock where elements of Blues, Country, Southern Rock, Roots and Americana are used to great effect. Though, Shotgun Sawyer enjoys using some mighty HEAVY FUZZED up POWER CHORDS along the way. 

There’s a cool “RETRO” vibe to the songs with Dylan’s vocals inspired by the classic frontmen of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Dylan’s vocals have a fine storytelling presence to them and I can listen to him all day as he has such a highly likeable persona. WIth a mixture of fast-paced, mid-tempo and slow sounding Blues Rock melodies, the band may live in the era of music that’s not that fashionable but they actually have a hip and happening presence to them especially when the music becomes more Doom Rock orientated. 

Standout tracks include: Cock N’ Bull, The Sky Is Crying, Isildur’s Bane, Master Nasty, Tired and That’s How It Goes.

If I have to choose a favourite track then it would have to be Isildur’s Bane as it’s a Doomed Out Blues Rock filled with sludgy side guitars, trippy Southern Rock vibes and a shit-ton of street level attitude coming from the whole band with excellent lyrics to match.

This is perhaps the perfect album for the Classic Hard Rock fan to invest themselves emotionally with. As it’s a record full of wonderful surprises where it can be surprisingly heavy when the mood calls for this. It may have taken six years for the band to return but welcome back Shotgun Sawyer, you’ve been missed. 

Shotgun Sawyer have done themselves proud with this album and have released their most mature record yet. I sadly missed this album when it was originally released back in Dec 2024 as it would have easily made my Albums Of The Year list for 2024. Don’t make the same mistake that I did. Add this to your collection now.

Words by Steve Howe

Shotgun Sawyer is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Links

Linktree | BandCamp | Instagram

Shotgun Sawyer - Bury The Hatchet (Album Review)

Release date: April 19^th 2019. Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Bury The Hatchet – Tracklisting

1.Ain't Tryin' to Go Down Slow 03:16

2.(Let Me) Take You Home 04:44

3.Backwoods Bear 03:29

4.You Got to Run 04:55

5.Son of The Morning 05:31

6.Hombre 03:44

7.Love You Right 05:15

8.When the Sun Breaks 05:30

9.Shallow Grave 04:24

Members

Brett, Dylan, and David

Review

Shotgun Sawyer return with their blissfully heavy new album – Bury The Hatchet. The album is a mix of Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, Blues and Psych Rock with a pissed off attitude to match. What makes Shotgun Sawyer stand out is their undeniable thirst to have FUN with their music. However you know from this listening to his album, the guys know how to handle themselves as their music has quite a volatile attitude in places especially on the first few songs with Ain’t Tryin’ To Go Down Slow, (Let Me) Take You Home and Backwoods Bear.

The album has elements of “Americana” style rock within it’s DNA and Shotgun Sawyer don’t shy away from that fact. The music is very raw but at least it’s honest and the guys know how to write and play a mean loud riff. The band do sound like early era All Them Witches in parts of the album and it’s a style of Blues Rock I’m a big fan of.

The production is excellent and the songs contained on the album sound superb. The vocals and music are pitch-perfect with the band proving they’re quite adapt at switching musical genres on certain songs on the album such as: You Got To Run, Son Of The Morning, Love You Right and When The Sun Breaks.

Maybe the album does run out of steam towards the end. However that hasn’t stopped Shotgun Sawyer paying homage to their musical heroes of the legendary 70s Hard Rock scene and putting their own spin on the standard Stoner/Hard Rock sound.

If you’re a fan of ZZ-Top and Led Zeppelin then Shotgun Sawyer have all bases covered with this album and they still have a few tricks of their own to impress people with. This is not only another excellent release from Shotgun Sawyer but also from Ripple Music who are proving why they are one of the best independent Hard Rock labels within the scene today.

Overall, Bury The Hatchet is superbly entertaining album and one that packs an almighty punch.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR and Shotgun Sawyer for the promo. Bury The Hatchet is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now via Ripple Music.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp