Twelve years since their inception and the The Answer are still breaking the walls down with their own take on rawk n roll!!
Based out of Northern Ireland, the band’s début LP ‘Rise’ (2006) caused quite a stir within rock circles. Classic Rock voted them ‘Best new Band 2005′ and Kerrrang nominated them for ‘Best British Newcomer’ in 2006. They’ve toured with everyone from AC/DC to Whitesnake and even opened for Aerosmtih at Hyde Park. An impressive CV to say the least. However, it doesn’t stop there. Zeppelin axeman Jimmy Page claims he’s a huge fan, The Rolling Stones took them through Europe, The Who requested them for Dublin and now Joe Elliot has cited them as a huge influence on the new Def Leppard album. With three albums under their belt (four if you include ‘Live at Planet Rock Xmas Party’), they return with the Rise EP.
Interesting to note that the title track from this EP was originally recorded as the title track for their début album. Up until now (6 years later) the track remained unreleased. Opening with a soft vocal and acoustic guitar, the track itself sounds more like Brian Kennedy’s take on rawk n roll than anything. Front-man Cormac Neeson asks the man upstairs, “lord teach me how to fly, I want to learn how to rise away”, before the string interlude goes all EWTN. I’m guessing Nickelback could be next in line with a tour offer as Neeson is well up on his “botten-dae-oh’s” too.
It’s easy to see why this track took until now to “rise” as it’s fucking awful. You have to wonder if it’s a lack of money to fund something new or if it was a vulnerable Answer, to a stupid question – “Should we fire this one out to tide em over?”
The 2nd track “Lost” is a return to form. Here they showcase what they do best, rock! The lyrics are tongue-in-cheek, front-man Cormac Neeson is back, screaming his tits off and guitarist Paul Mahon has the riffs to drive the cliffs. From there we’re treated to an acoustic version of the title track. From what I’m hearing it’s the title track with the drums muted on the desk. It’s not like the drum version was in Sepultura territory, why god, why??
Hopefully after this questionable release they get back to doing what they do best. Prime examples would be ‘Under the Sky’ or the Sabbath style rifferama of ‘Into the Gutter’. Next time, let’s leave the acoustics in the box (with the message).
