Dead Root Revival Shares First Single, “Trillions Of Stars” From Upcoming Album, The Controller’s Exam
It’s easy to describe Dead Root Revival’s sound as old school—guitar-focused rock and roll played with a Southern flair—but with songs derived from frontman Tom Savage’s socially conscious worldview, DRR is a band fully in tune with the zeitgeist.
That’s clearly evident on the Kingston, Ontario-based band’s new album, The Controller’s Exam, a sweeping 11-song collection that arrives March 1 on digital platforms, CD and double vinyl. Dead Root Revival has released a handful of live albums—capturing all the grit and energy of their shows—making The Controller’s Exam technically their debut. Yet, it was also recorded in a live setting with renowned producer David Barbe (Sugar, R.E.M., Drive-By Truckers) at Chase Park Transduction Studio in Athens, Georgia.
All of the classic elements are present on the album’s first focus track, “Trillions Of Stars,” powered by Savage spitting out lines like “We are the instigators of our own disease” in between his fuzzy guitar breaks. It’s all supported by Tony Silvestri on Hammond organ and Fender Rhodes, alongside the driving rhythm section comprised of drummer Bonz Bowering and bassist Richard Piche.
Savage explains,
“Our goal with this record was to capture the energy of our live show, and really give DRR fans something special. I think we’ve achieved that with The Controller’s Exam. It was an incredible experience traveling down to Athens to work with David. His experience and palpable enthusiasm for doing things analogue set us at ease, and allowed us to really focus on performing to the top of our abilities. There is something about recording to tape that raises the stakes and gets the heart beating a bit faster, compared to the digital world of endless tracks, endless takes, and copy and paste. For us, it was the only way to make a Dead Root Revival record.”
Indeed, the heart of DRR is their genuine musical chemistry, which draws from many points across the musical spectrum, and sometimes can shift between these influences mid-song. The result is that anyone seeing DRR live can expect a variety of moods, tempos, and dynamics that add up to a powerful concert experience. Although many might know Savage from his more folk-oriented solo output, Dead Root Revival gives him an opportunity to show off a different side of his musical personality—and more importantly to attack the strings of his signature Gibson Nighthawk.
Savage will be doing much more of that as DRR plans to hit the road in earnest in support of The Controller’s Exam and remind us of when music grabbed us by the ears, lifted us up, reached straight into our chests, and stole our hearts.
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