Taking No Prisoners
As a rush of riffs chug and snarl by means of introduction backed by a fist pounding beat that begs for accompaniment, it is instantly clear that The Love Load are a band that are going for the jugular. The Washington D.C three piece manage to wield a mighty blend of punk meets indie with hooks that would make pop tracks jealous and with their latest album, "The Human Resourceful", the trio are taking no prisoners.
Opening with title track, 'The Human Resourceful', The Love Load waste no time in bringing out the big guns. With heavy sleaze fuelled riffs that pound through the body, The Love Load grab you straight away but it is the addition of Ted Watts vocals that really pull the trio together. With hints of The White Strips' Jack White mingling with a Dave Grohl gruffness and even a nod to Joe Strummer complete with passion ridden vocals, Watts brings a special something to the table that helps the three piece instantly stand out from other bands. From the punk riot of 'Crisis' complete with a mind bending epic conclusion, to the reflective sombre stance of 'We Are Going Out To Nice', "The Human Resourceful" highlights how far from one dimensional The Love Load are; they are more than a mere punk band instead able to offer a mature, contemplative sound that will draw you in whilst still retaining the excitement and fervour. Although the hook laden 'Candy Dish' may be able to snare a younger audience, there is a sense that The Love Load are a band that will be more in tune with those who are old enough to realise that Green Day's "American Idiot" wasn't the first punk album even written and as such "The Human Resourceful" may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who preserve, the rewards are plentiful.
This is the type of music that needs cranking up, that demands you nod along and that might even have you breaking out some dance moves. With an indie vibe nestled throughout the album, "The Human Resourceful" manages to avoid the mine field of becoming stale; the trio may have a punk rock heart but they allow a range of genres to sweep through the album, bringing a little something new to each track and whilst some songs may need a repeat listen before they really seep into the soul, it doesn't hurt to hear The Love Load more than once.