Them Damn Kings - "Stronger Than Before"

Papy Jeff Metal's Favorite of the Day

Them Damn Kings - "STRONGER THAN BEFORE": ROCK N’ ROLL WITH ITS BOOTS STILL ON (AND KICKING)

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F**k me, this is what rock n’ roll sounds like when it’s not trying to be nice. Them Damn Kings don’t just play the damn thing, they are the damn thing. That smell of stale beer on a blown-out amp, the riff that slices through your coffee buzz like a rusty blade, the kind of vibe where the misfits, the freaks, and the half-broken souls all crash into each other in some dive bar that’s one fire marshal visit away from being condemned. This is their church. And Stronger Than Before? Their latest sermon.

Jef Rhodes (vocals/guitar) kicked things off in 2020, dragged Ryan Blake Folden (ex-Lacuna Coil) into the studio for their debut Rise Up, and even scored a #4 on the NACC Heavy charts with “Throw It Away.” Then, because rock n’ roll loves a good plot twist, Ryan bailed in 2023. Cue the scramble. Cue the desperation. Cue Jef, half-drunk on hope, sliding into some random Facebook thread where Cooper Hughes was drumming like his life depended on it. One message later, boom: lineup complete. And then, because why the hell not? They wrote Stronger Than Before in three days. Three. Days. The drums you hear? First takes. The energy? Unfiltered. The result? A middle finger wrapped in a melody, served with a side of “we don’t give a f**k.”

 

The title track, "Stronger Than Before," hits like a bar fight you didn't see coming. It's got that swagger, that snarl, that reason you still believe in guitar music. Yeah, it's charting (#9 on Metal Contraband, #12 on NACC Heavy), but who cares? The point is the feeling: the sweat, the grit, the sense that this band would play just as hard for five people in a basement as they would for a festival crowd.

So yeah, give it a spin. If you miss the days when rock music had teeth, scars, and a smirk, this'll wake you up.

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International Review

"Them Damn Kings' 'Stronger Than Before' is a raw, unfiltered, and energetic rock n' roll album. It captures the essence of classic rock with a modern, gritty edge. The band's story of quick formation and recording adds to the authentic, rebellious spirit of the music, making it a compelling listen for fans of hard rock and classic rock n' roll."