Dead Trains are not a country band, but with references to Louisiana, whiskey, and twangy guitar lines to boot, they’re certainly a band country fans can appreciate. Their upcoming album County Road Bound, slated for a February 2016 release, is fast-paced and drum-heavy, with scattered Americana imagery and a genuine need to be heard. The first song doubles as the title track, and is similar to Blue Skies’ “What’s Wrong?”, only with much grittier vocals. From there we move full speed ahead into “Up Jumped the Devil”, a song that rolls as much as it rumbles, switching tempos more times than it’s possible to count. The Boston trio is decidedly off-beat: their music is good - better than that, even - but perhaps not melodious in a way that lends itself to alt-rock radio. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; what Dead Trains is doing in terms of guitar-driven sound is a fantastic endeavor. They play with chord structures and bluesy lyrics so the songs feel experimental but not alienating. The first thirty seconds of “Cannonball” are undeniably gorgeous, nothing but a few catchy guitar notes and a steady drum beat to carry it along. “Gasoline” evokes the feeling of singer Matt Axten sneering into the mic, daring us to challenge his words as he delivers them to us up close.
County Road Bound is a refreshing album, one that grows on you the more you listen to it and solidifies Dead Trains as the indie rock band to keep an eye on in 2016. It’s only seven tracks long but it leaves an indelible impression (and the listener wanting more). Its punchy lyrics, muted vocals and jangling rhythms make for an extremely distinct listening experience, and “Fire Next Time” rounds it all out with a surprising lack of percussion. Instead it really feels as if this song was meant to be performed around the campfire, with only a guitar and the glow of warm heat separating you from the group. It’s in this style that Dead Trains’ music manages to be completely arresting - even without a key element of the band, you can’t help but be wholly engrossed.
