SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DIRTY HONEY – DIRTY HONEY LP

Dirty Honey
Dirty Honey LP
Independent

Among the most promising of the current u- and-coming rock bands to emerge from America is Dirty Honey. Returning with their first full-length album, and their follow-up to their debut studio EP that garnered comparisons to the likes of Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses, Dirty Honey double down on their balls to the wall classic rock sound on Dirty Honey LP.

Opening with the mid-tempo pace and crunchy riff of the lead single, “California Dreamin’”, Dirty Honey LP kicks down the doors on a high note that delivers lead vocals and guitar licks reminiscent equally to Steven Tyler and Joe Perry as it is Axl Rose and Slash. “California Dreamin’” is an absolute blast of a hard rocker and provides a perfect sonic snapshot of what Dirty Honey is all about.

Across the eight tracks, Dirty Honey spends very little time meandering with middle of the road rock. The riff heavy “Take My Hand” is another example of their rhythmic grooves layered under stacked guitars that simply sounds massive and, while distinctly ‘70s inspired, there is a certain sense of modern flair to the track. Similarly, the fast paced “Gypsy” delivers a slinky and weaving guitar riff, making for an excellent verse. The closing track, power ballad “Another Last Time” opens with a melodic guitar flurry in tone of Hendrix and Pearl Jam’s “Yellow Ledbetter”, provides a sense of balance and versatility to the hard rock record. No song, however, comes close to the incredible excitement of “Tied Up”, a dirty shuffle that is equal parts GNR as it is The Black Crowes – thanks to the gospel inspired backing vocals accenting the chorus – and is driven by a great riff, a chaotic verse, a soaring guitar solo, and a larger-than-life chorus that blows the song wide open.

Dirty Honey hit it big on their sophomore release and full-length debut. The self-titled album feels like a direct extension to their 2019 six-track EP and delivers more riffs, excitement, and hard-hitting rock from a band that captures a sense of raw danger and grit that all too often feels absent from the genre over the last two decades. That being said, there are moments on Dirty Honey LP that feel more in-the-box and conventional than you’d hope in comparison to the likes of “California Dreamin’” and “Tied Up”. Despite this, the record is sure to be a hit among their ever-growing fan base and demonstrates exactly why Dirty Honey are among the top young and hungry rock bands you should be watching out for.

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