Out of Nashville, Tennessee, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown has found the secret for pushing through the limitations of a global pandemic: create new music. That being said, the band have taken control of 2020 by announcing their fourth studio album, Pressure, which is set for release on Friday, October 16, 2020 via Snakefarm/Spinefarm Records.
For music fans who may not be familiar with this act, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown formed when Singer/Guitarist Tyler Bryant joined up with Drummer Calen Crosby and Bassist Calvin Webster. Bryant soon met the son of a legend, Guitarist Graham Whitford, whose father is none other than Guitarist Brad Whitford of Aerosmith. After adding Graham to the band, they would eventually acquire Bassist Noah Denney following Webster’s departure.
With the lineup cemented, they released their debut album, 2013’s Wild Child, and then their sophomore effort, 2017’s Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown. Next, the band would drop 2019’s Truth and Lies before parting ways with Denney in March of 2020. Despite any hurdles, over the years Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown have performed with some of the most notable acts in Rock, such as Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Eric Clapton, and ZZ Top.
As a trio, Bryant, Whitford and Crosby were originally going to make their next release an EP. However, suddenly with a lot more time on their hands, the three Blues rockers met up with good friend and veteran Nashville Producer Roger Alan Nichols to begin working on something bigger. Low and behold, the now former EP had blossomed into a thirteen-track full-length album called Pressure.
Beginning with the title track, “Pressure” gives way to some twangy and rockin’ riffs with a ripping guitar solo. A very good Blues Rock singer, Bryant’s delivery of a line like “I feel the pressure comin’ down on me” is just what the doctor ordered. Next, the swampy Blues-laden jammer known as “Hitchhiker” can keep a crowd shaking.
As the debut single off Pressure, “Crazy Days” captures all of the emotion and purity of a good Country Rock song, similar to the likes of Shooter Jennings. Thereafter, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown dish out “Backbone” before the heavy bass riff and click of two drum sticks kick off “Holdin’ My Breath.” This right here is a tough as nails Rock-n-Roll song that wishes for nothing but better days. Then, an acoustic ballad, “Like The Old Me” simplifies things a bit before the track “Automatic.”
Cooking with gasoline, “Wildside” is a pleasing and laidback number full of classic, feel good Rock-n-Roll riffing. Quietly burning with Rock fever, “Misery” rises to the occasion with more swampy acoustics. After this, they get some “Fuel” before taking it down with the ballad “Loner.” A smoky bar would set the scene for a song like “Fever,” while the breezy Blues soloing of “Coastin'” gives one last ounce of Pressure.
As an impressive Rock-n-Roll band, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown have grown immensely and the proof is in Pressure. Standout tracks like “Wildside,” “Coastin’,” “Crazy Days,” and “Misery” showcase what a cool band Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown can become. That in mind, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown may have produced their best album to date, and that is why Cryptic Rock awards Pressure 4 out of 5 stars.
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