Devil's Gate Music
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LA-based quartet The Bites seriously impressed when they opened the show for The Dead Daisies this time last year. Not quite Jerry Lee Lewis in 1958 (allegedly) pouring lighter fluid over his piano and setting it on fire, before (allegedly) saying to the headliner, Chuck Berry, “Follow that!”, but the livewire act certainly grabbed the opportunity afforded to them and ran with it, in doing so, lighting a fire under the arses of the headliner.
Frontman Jordan Tyler was a constant blur as he put in a performance to rival primetime Dave Lee Roth. Capturing that same energy in a studio setting was always going to be tricky, but with the forthcoming self-titled album, The Bites have just about accomplished that mission.
More polished than most of the material on the 2023 debut album Squeeze, which came packed with moments such as “Knockin’ on the Door” and “Do Me a Favor”, that had some checking the Americans’ passports for any signs of an Aussie connection, this 11-track offering is most definitely made in America – and in some places, parts of “Lips”, “Pretty Pistol” and “Shake Your Thing” immediately spring to mind, America, by way of Sheffield. The album has a slight classic Def Leppard vibe throughout, but with more focus on the guitars.
The opening track, “Whenever You’re Ready,” has a quick burst of Billy Duffy-like riffs spattered throughout, on a track fit to burst with huge hooks delivered by Jordan Tyler and his ultra-clean vocals. Well-produced without being over-slick, it is hella modern, and if American mainstream radio would get over its ingrained fear of guitar-driven rock, then this one would never be off the air. Likewise, “Hold On” would not look out of place on a Now USA compilation or featured on a flashback montage scene in a classic 80s movie.
“Dancing With The Devil” starts with a slight Black Keys-ish fuzz-filled blast of riffs, before settling into a slab of infectious handclaps and heavy percussive slaps that steer the track away from the direction it first hinted at. “Aftertaste” is another track where the guitars from Jono Richer are set to stun, and the well-used phrase “don’t bore us, get to the chorus” springs to mind. The infectious “Carry You Home” is dripping with sleaze. A slowed-down version would be a killer blues track.
“Tattoo?” is Van Halen for Generation Alpha (had to look that one up) and might just act as a springboard for the youngsters to discover older, more “classic” acts. The longest, heaviest, gnarliest track on the album, it is a thing of beauty where Mark Hylander (drums) and Zack Currier (bass) combine to thunderous effect. Jono Richer, though, plays out of his skin.
Not a million miles from established pop acts like 5SOS, or even Busted, and more rock-oriented acts like The Struts. The guitars are way heavier for sure, and there is more aggression to be found here. It’s not Pop Punk or Power Pop; how about simply well-played, commercial Rock n’ Roll with more than a dash of Pop, where the guitarist sneaks into the studio when everybody is out and ramps up the guitars? Whatever you feel like calling it, it is great fun, and full of energy. Live, these songs will be as heavy as balls.
Available September 18th via Earache Records; pre-order HERE
Review – Dave
