ROCK MASTERS KEEP A-ROLLIN’
Published in AXS.com, July 2015
For all the goofy bravado that their name evokes, the Finnish musical collective called Rock Masters Band is not messing around. Their most recent single, “Rock and Roll Saves Souls,” oozes with the attitude of a group that has done its homework and, now that school’s out, plans on rocking all night long.
The song rolls like a freight train driving to a kegger at a swimming hole where girls in cut-off jeans smoke cigarettes and boys in pick up trucks holler yee-ha because it’s summer time and there’s beer. The rhythm is built on the chassis of a classic walking bass line that’s been souped up to reverberate like a Harley and chunky drums that occasionally leap out of the pocket for a reckless thrill.
Along the way, it mingles with the big guitars of vintage heavy metal bands like Iron Maiden, cranks a who-gives-a-damn-volume that would make Jesus and Mary Chain proud and follows a harmonica that beams like a headlight on a locomotive fueled by Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning.”
The natural born sneer of Sami “Haxu” Hakala’s voice ride this bouncy stomp down to the world’s most ultimate swamp fest. In keeping with the explicit tradition of badassery set forth by his band’s name, he informs listeners that it is indeed possible to reach for the stars and bang your head, too: “Get your kicks while chasing a dream, feels so good to be back on a wheel, might as well go with the flow and let the rock and roll save our soul.”
The band follows his advice when they get to the bridge, moving over the thing with a riff that could hold up to the best moments of Aerosmith’s “Toys In The Attic.” All the while, Haxu repeats a chorus about revolution with a level of sincerity that could probably convince John and Paul to join along.
Likewise, if you don’t get on the train, you’re missing out on something good.