THE ANSWER TO OUR LONGING TO SEE AC/DC OR LED ZEPPELIN LIVE
Thursday, November 6th, 2008 at 9:27am by Vince Neilstein
Remember Silvertide? That band was fucking awesome, and it’s a shame they disappeared after releasing only one album. Thankfully now we’ve got The Answer, a Northern Ireland quartet who, like their American predecessors in Silvertide, have barely changed a thing from the ’70s hard rock formula that had its heyday before the band members were born. On their four-song debut EP Never Too Late (The End Records) these lads rock with plenty of AC/DC meat and potatoes bombast and the melody of Led Zeppelin, mixing it with a more modern (relatively), hard-hitting, Black Crowes-y sensibility. Vocalist Cormac Neeson’s wail undeniably calls Robert Plant to mind; if Led Zep do go on to tour without Plant, they should surely give Mr. Neeson a call. Meanwhile, guitarist Paul Mahon wails like Page or Hendrix possessed — the dude can fucking PLAY — while the rhythm section of Michael Waters (Bass) and James Heatley (Drums) holds it down with plenty of energy and power.
As with most throwback bands like this you know what to expect, so there ain’t much in the way of surprises; but that’s just fine when you’re opening stadiums and arenas for AC/DC on their Black Ice tour. When these guys do finally get around to recording a full-length I imagine it’ll sound just like a longer version of this 4 song EP, and if they’re fortunate enough to get to the next one, that’ll probably sound the same too. If it ain’t broke, why bother fixing it?
-VN
(three and a half out of five horns)
Thanks for posting that – Silvertide’s album is still one of my favorites and I’ve seen them live 3 or 4 times. Totally underrated band right there. But hey at least Shinedown is benefitting with Silvertide’s guitarist, and that new album rips.
I loved Silvertide, I still put on their album from time to time. Someone told me about The Answer like a year ago but I oddly never got into them as much.
They have a full length.
Its called “Rise,” and it rocks.
The Answer has recorded an album (’Rise’, 2006), but appearantly it’s not yet released in the US. Great (live) band.
The Answer’s second album will be released in Europe late Jan /early Feb – one of the songs on this US EP is taken from it, the rest are from the debut Rise as far as I’m aware.
And yes, too bad about Silvertide – they were posting some of the demo tracks that were planned for the second album on their myspace recently. Not as ’70s sounding as I’d hope though.
I thought these guys were surprisingly generic for a band on The End, plus one that got an opening slot for AC/DC. Giving it another listen on your suggestion, however.
I have the Answer’s Rise Special Edition 2 CD set that was released last year, and it is awesome. The EP does not do the band justice. They have a lot more good much than the tunes represented on that disc. I can’t figure out why they didn’t release Rise in the U.S. It is really good.
If it aint broke why not just listen to the records released 30 years ago?
Great review. I’ve been staring at it for a few days now trying to work up the ambition to write a review over at The Rock Dose, but I’m lazy. I wasn’t feeling it when I first listened, in fact I don;t think I got past the first song. A week or so later I popped in the DVD that came with it and I was really getting in to it. Nothing epic or different but good music. I got that same Zeppelin/Crowes feel to it.
Funny you should mention Silvertide. Just the other day I was wondering what happened to that band. I know that the guitarist plays with Shinedown now, but I never heard as to why Silvertide didn’t keep things going. Does anyone even know? I thought they had a really good thing going.
Have to agree about Silvertide, they were awesome. I think they’re working on their second album – there were a few demos on their MySpace.
Airbourne are a band worth checkin out for those of you who like The Answer and Silvertide. But they’re better. oi oi oi!
The Answer is fine to listen to, but they need to improve their stage presence. The lead singer looks like a total dork on stage from the way he carries himself, to the clothes he chooses to wear. They need to work on their image.