Listening to One in the Chamber, Downshift’s latest endeavour that will be out on November 17h, I can’t help but find myself thinking of Nickelback’s The State. And before anyone rolls their eyes, I’ve been a fan of Nickelback since that album. It was their gritty garage sound that initially captivated me, and much like the band often subject to undeserved criticism, Downshift possesses that same raw and gritty garage essence.
Downshift is Jordan Payne on vocals, guitars, Aarron Parrett on guitar, Jordan McAdams on drums, backing vocals, Austin Ellison on bass, and Clayton Barber on guitar and they are blending heavy instruments with catchy vocals to create a dynamic and powerful sound that that is akin to Nickelback, Three Days Grace, 3 Doors Down, Saving Abel and the like.
The album kicks off with the electrifying “Give It To You”, Downshift’s version of “Jessie’s Girl” via unadulterated rock and roll. Fuelled by heavy riffs, the track delivers a gut punch with its catchy chorus, hooky grooves, and distortion-fueled guitars. The heavy grooves don’t stop. That’s one of the things I enjoyed throughout One in the Chamber. Each song is brimming with rhythmic brilliance and driving drums.
On the song, “Bite the Barrell”, Jordan (vocals) explains,
It was written after coming through one of the darkest times in my life. Feeling like I couldn’t take one more thing, I remember feeling as if I had a metaphorical gun to my head just waiting to pull the trigger. The phrase ‘bite the barrel’ is intended to mean that the other option is to ‘bite the bullet’. It’s almost a way of saying, “keep hanging on, you’ll get through this eventually.
The first song the band wrote together, “Terminal”, is a sort of mission statement for the band to remember that life is short and reminds those listening that it’s time to embrace life’s brief moments.
The essence of everything I cherished about ’90s rock reverberates throughout the title track, “One in the Chamber.” Infectious guitars, catchy vocals, thrilling bass, and dynamic drums conjure a time when rock was unburdened by mechanics, embodying the raw emotion of those who poured their blood, sweat, and tears into their craft.
One in the Chamber by Downshift is made by rock fans for rock fans. They’re gritty garage sound echoes with nostalgia while giving a fresh and vibrant energy. From the heavy guitars and driving drums to the soaring vocals, this album has it all.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS: “Bombs Away”, “Lose It”, “Ready to Run”, “One in the Chamber”, “One of a Kind”
