Album Review: Dirty Honey, Mayhem and Revelry

Written By Justin Bauer, OOTB Publications

Dirty Honey delivers a hard variety of blues-rock with their high-energy performance on their 16-song live record, Mayhem and Revelry (Dirt Records).

The opener hits hard, as “Won’t Take Me Alive” is a riff-centric song that uses enough distortion to edge into hard rock, but with a flair for the sounds of classic rock.

It’s raw and dirty with solid musicianship that throws back to what made great the likes of Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith.

In the same breath, the blatant salute to classic rock has a modern feel to it that avoids feeling dated, while paying homage in such a way that suggests this act could’ve existed alongside the great rock acts that define the genre.

In the tradition of rock themes, there’s a focus on rebellion, love and sex, individuality, and the occasional drug reference.

The songs are put together in a way that keeps the emphasis on high-energy movement with the occasional slower track that lets the audience sit with the feelings Dirty Honey is trying to convey.

These numbers are meant to get people up and dancing. It’s the kind of rock that puts the fun of the genre front-and-center.

“California Dreamin’” is another up-tempo excursion into solid hard blues-rock. The guitar solo on this song is slick, thoughtful, and fits the song without any unnecessary notes. This statement pretty well works throughout the record, as I truly enjoy the guitar work of John Notto.

“Coming Home” slows down a little, bordering on a southern twang with a slide guitar that leads over an acoustic. This one stands out amongst the others, and I feel taken aback to another time.

In referring to, “mistakes made when we were young,” nostalgia and regret are explored, but none of it compares to this single defining place where, “places seem greener but never were sweeter than home.” I feel a subtle nod to Allman Brothers coupled with the romantic sentiment of Zeppelin.

“Roam” is a slower song, and the first waltz on the record. This song deals with the helplessness of being unable to help someone you care for, a feeling that’s all too common makes this song relatable. The notion that, “falling’s the only way to feel alive” reminds me of friends I’ve lost along the way.

“The Wire” brings us back to that energetic atmosphere that explores lyrical themes of love that comes with an expiration date. The grooves have me nodding along to this one!

“Scars” has a bridge where the drums get to shine. The rhythm section is incredibly talented, and their moments are full of technical ability that is carried by a human element missing from a lot of modern rock productions.

The sound of Dirty Honey is like fresh air or clean water. It’s an essential kind of rock music that still thrives because of artists like this.

Dirty Honey isn’t what I expected going in, they’re far better than that; if you’re unfamiliar, this live record is an excellent place to start!

Dirty Honey’s new live album, Mayhem and Revelry, is absolutely worth a spin and proves that rock is alive and well.

Tracklist

North America Tour Live Recordings

Won’t Take Me Alive
California Dreamin’
Dirty Mind
Heartbreaker
Tied Up
Coming Home
Another Last Time
Rolling 7’s

Europe Tour Live Recordings

Can’t Find The Brakes
Satisfied
Roam
The Wire
Don’t Put Out The Fire
Scars
When I’m Gone
You Make It All Right

Hear Album

https://orcd.co/mayhemandrevelrylive

Mayhem & Revelry Tour Dates

https://www.dirtyhoney.com/tour-dates