The Datsuns – Eye To Eye
(Hellsquad)
Reviewed by Bridget Herlihy.
In 2002 The Datsuns turned the rock world’s eyes – and ears – towards the Waikato town of Cambridge with the release of their electrifying self-titled debut album. The rest, as they say, is history. The band followed a stellar trajectory that saw them not only slay the music charts in Aotearoa, but also amassed a legion of fans across Australia, the US and Europe as they toured the Northern Hemisphere extensively. Musically, the four-piece were a force to be reckoned with; a force that continued to grow and evolve with each album. It has been seven long years since NZ’s darlings of garage rock released their last album, ‘Deep Sleep’, but much to the relief of fans around the world, the band’s new album ‘Eye To Eye’ is finally here in all of its classic-rock infused glory.
‘Eye To Eye’ has been a labour of love of sorts; the album itself took three years to make, a process that started in 2016 and was completed in 2019. But when the panademic struck, the album’s release was subsequently delayed almost two years. Recorded at Roundhouse Studios in Auckland and mixed in Stockholm; the city that front man and bassist Dolf de Borst now calls home. With De Borst in Sweden, guitarists Christian Livingston and Phil Sommervell and drummer Ben Cole living in two different cities in NZ, the album has quite literally been an international production, albeit thus far without the extensive touring that would normally foreshadow and accompany the release of an album by The Datsuns.
From opening track ‘Dehumanise’, it is immediately apparent that The Datsuns have continued to produce a huge sound that remains true to their aesthetic, in that it is heavily influenced by rock music of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Yet it is also astoundingly fresh, delivering a much-welcome timeless sonic punch to the ears. And part of said punch resonates with even greater confidence than their previous six albums, perhaps due to the extra time afforded by the pandemic to further refine the tracks.
‘Eye to Eye’ is an album of entrancing layers, especially when it comes to the vocal harmonies and guitars; layers that are especially evident on tracks ‘White Noise Machine’, ‘Moongazer’, ‘Raygun’ and ‘Suspicion’. First single ‘Brain To Brain’ is a high octane, unrelenting number, full of massive riffs, and almost impossible to sit still to. The eleven tracks segue from one to the next superbly, making it an album that should be played from beginning to end without pausing, skipping or shuffling. It is highly likely, however, that you will want to put ‘Eye To Eye’ on repeat.
‘Eye To Eye’ is a tour-de-force, and The Datsuns are clearly at the top of their game. Some fans and critics will likely argue that this is the four pieces’ most accomplished album to date. Which begs the question, was album number seven worth the seven-year wait? Absolutely. And when The Datsuns manage to tour in support of this album, there is no doubt whatsoever that it is going to be epic.
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