Spins – The Outfit • “Viking”
The Outfit
Viking
(Pavement Entertainment)
Chicago rockers The Outfit have done it again. On its second full-length album, Viking, the foursome — brothers Mark (drums) and Matt Nawara (guitar), Mike Gorman (bass) and Andy Mitchell (vocals/guitar) — seamlessly merge massive hooks, edgy riffs, soaring vocal harmonies and catchy choruses with pleasing results. Mixed by multi-platinum producer Ulrich Wild (Breaking Benjamin, Static-X), the album’s overall sound is enormous, robust, and melodic. From the hard-driving and infectious opener “Come Alive,” to the ’70s glam-rock vibe of “Midnight Moses,” to the emotive and heartfelt “Bleed in the Dark,” to the rambunctious title track, the band creates a fantastic blend of Cheap Trick-meets-Foo Fighters influences. Mitchell’s mesmerizing Robin Zander-like vocal styling throughout the entire album is uncanny. “Sirens” contains a modern rock radio vibe with a grunge rock swagger that continues on the Soundgarden-esque “Wolves.” It’s rare when every track on an album is a winner with no filler, but I’m here to say that this is absolutely the case with Viking. The ten memorable and hooky tracks — combined for a perfect 35-minute runtime — possess a high replay factor, resulting in the most pleasurable listening experience possible.
9 out of 10
– Kelley Simms
Category: Spins
