photo courtesy of Lansdowne via BJF Media

Single Reviews of Lansdowne: “Here to Stay” and “Oxygen” (AFM Records)

Lansdowne is a heavy-rocking Boston band you’ve read about at this blog before. Well, this fivesome – Jon Ricci (vocals), Shaun Lichtenstein (lead guitar, vocals), Glenn Mungo (drums), Josh Waterman (guitar, vocals), and Mike LaRoche (bass) – has released two more kickass singles since my last review, “Here to Stay” and “Oxygen.”

“Here to Stay” kicks off with a fiesty guitar rock intro that softens as Ricci’s vocals kick in. The band has a very big, arena-sized, modern heavy rock sound, replete with explosive bursts of sound and vocals (or sound and fury, if you prefer). This song, in particular, might appeal to fans of Daughtry’s bigger, more expansive, powerfully explosive numbers. However, Lansdowne adds some gritty, noisy axework when a little raucous chaos is called upon to drive the song forward.

image courtesy of BJF Media

“Here to Stay” is a song whose lyrical message – and the energy with which it is delivered – is likely to appeal to a certain cross-section of the band’s fans, too. In the material accompanying the release, Jon Ricci commented: “‘Here To Stay’ is a powerful song about overcoming adversity and coming together to say, ‘No matter what happens, no matter what you throw at us, we’re going to be victorious.’ We’ve spoken with so many fans that have told us stories about the challenges they’ve faced and the struggles that they’ve endured, and how our music has been a part of their process as they heal and motivation as they push through tough times. So this is our way of saying we understand, we’re with you, and no matter what happens we’re going to get through this together.” So yeah, that’s a pretty sweet message, too.

“Oxygen,” meanwhile, begins explosively, as you’ve come to expect from Lansdowne (if you took my advice and started listening to them a couple years ago). Soft verses lead to powerful choruses at the end of which the title lyric is nearly screamed. It’s also pretty cool lyrically, potentially connecting with those in suffocating relationships with the lyrics “I can’t believe I was caught in your fire. Now I see through the smoke and the lies. Finally, I can breathe as I’m rising above the ashes, alive again, oxygen!” A late song, typically new-metal screeching breakdown adds character, leading the song to a powerful closing section, where you’ll join the band in screaming “Oxygen!”

Lansdowne and its powerful sound are so obviously ready-made for an all-encompassing live concert experience it’s not even funny. Check out the “Shows” section of the band’s website for upcoming dates. Right now, a May 24th date at Wally’s Pub in Hampton, NH is listed, but check back for more.

photo courtesy of BJF Media

Single Reviews of Lansdowne: “Safeword” and “Bury Me” (AFM Records)

Hot on the heels of the band’s successful February 2023 album release, Medicine, Boston-based heavy rockers Lansdowne released “Safeword” on September 15th and, a few weeks later, “Bury Me” on October 27th. Well into the band’s second decade on the scene, Lansdowne’s sound remains fresh, its rock ‘n roll fast and heavy.

image courtesy of BJF Media

“Safeword” kicks off with an opening solo vocal that’s crisp and slightly growly, an attention-grabbing technique reminiscent of Nickelback, quickly adding a heavy guitar strum. About a half-minute in, the song reaches a seductive “safeword” vocal and crashes into a lightly-instrumented style of heavy rock with vocals that are a combination of the powerful, clearly enunciated  hard rock vocals of Shinedown and a rough-edged delivery that hints at Theory of a Deadman. There’s also a little of that funky, not-quite-on-beat tempo that Bostonians will associate with Extreme, but it’s updated with almost a sidewinding, hip-hop inspired rhythm. In all, “Safeword” is a cool, enjoyable song that’ll stick with you.

It’s worth sharing the band’s quote from the “Safeword” promo material: “We wanted to give our fans that familiar sexy dirty rock sound they love from [Lansdowne’s 2011 album] Blue Collar Revolver, but bring it into 2023 with some modern production ‘Safeword’ is really about embracing who you are when it comes to sex.
Everyone is curious, everyone has their kink. Don’t be ashamed… embrace it!” Well, OK.

image courtesy of BJF Media

The more recent single, “Bury Me,” is a great follow-up to “Safeword.” The two songs flow easily from one to the next in a playlist. “Bury Me” somehow retains the heaviness – amps it up, even, with a little more frequent heavy wall of sound backdrop – while adding some poppier elements, like a catchier rhythm, a funky twist to the title lyric, “you bury me,” and some soaring symphonic elements. Also, listen for the clever lyric “Building castles in the sky just to watch ’em decay.” There are too many cool little elements in “Bury Me” to fully catalog them.

For “Bury Me,” too, Lansdowne shared a worthwhile band in its promo: “So many of us find ourselves in toxic relationships. The saying is true, ‘Hurt people hurt people.’ Loving somebody shouldn’t be painful and should never make you second guess your worth. Know your value. Know that you’re worth loving. Leave and never look back. You deserve better.” See, worthwhile.

photo courtesy of BJF Media

To sum up, the band has, just within the last couple of months, released two kickass, catchy hard rock songs and dispensed a little wisdom in the process. If you’re not familiar with Lansdowne, these two singles are a strong entry point for you. “Safeword” will hook you; “Bury Me” will real you in.

Looking Ahead

Landsowne will soon be on the road in Europe with another kickass band, Thundermother. The tour kicks off in Munich on November 24th and runs through December 3rd, hitting several cities in Germany, plus Bern, Switzerland; Paris, France; and Utrecht, Netherlands. See the “tour” page of Lansdowne’s website for details.