Before you listen to the 40 Sons latest album, think about the rock you hear on radio today. You know what I’m talking about. Electronica, keyboards, and non-stop rock-pop for the masses. Listening to 40 Sons latest self titled album brings you back to a time when rock music was rock, and we loved it for its hard guitar riffs, varied vocals, and solid drum lines.

I couldn’t quite pin my finger on who the 40 Sons music reminded me of. Then I had the realization that it is probably because they really haven’t been influenced by any one artist, or even one genre. What they reminded me of was listening to rock music about 20 years ago, just after grunge died out, but before every artist wanted to get on the latest Big Shiny Tunes. (Admission: I did own the first four. And the Big Shiny 90′s CD.)

Want more 40 Sons? Check out our Q & A with Guitar & vocalist Mike Spik.

There isn’t a secret as to why the album’s second track, Hurricane, was picked to be the intro song for UFC 152 and for the OHL intro music. It is fun and it is hard. What really makes this album for me is that 40 Sons manage to make every single track a solid rock tune. Solid beat lines, the lyrics aren’t screamed intelligibly, and every single track is now on both my ‘Driving’ playlist and my ‘Workout’ playlist.

Entertainment Alberta chatted with 40 Sons’ Mike Spic recently, and asked what his favourite tracks on the album were. “Oh man, I don’t know. As the album has evolved my favourites have kept changing too.” he said. “I think that right now, my favourite would have to be ‘One Way Ticket’, or maybe ‘Who Do You Think you Are.’”

Both are solid tracks. for myself, best track is tight between Who Do You Think you Are & the song before it, Run Baby Run, which is just so damned easy to rock along with. Both of these had tough competition across the album, including One Way Ticket for easily having the best guitar solo on the album and Won’t Give Up, which has a phenomenal intro, and then keeps it going through the whole song.

Sleeper hit on the album: Broken, which the worked on with the Gorillaz, one of the awesome list of bands they collaborated with, including Turmoil, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and more.

I could give a review on each track on this album just for the excuse to listen to it over and over.  Better advice: Let me enjoy listening to it and Go buy the album yourself. buy it because this album isn’t the rock music you’re hearing today. It is rock music paying homage to yesterday, but carving its own path today.

Bonus: Mike Spik’s current favourite 40 Sons video, Hurricane.