• Drama

The Nightbirds - Art. 

An album you would put on shuffle while travelling to the countryside. The drums build with acceleration, and your car moves on the smooth asphalt just as the beat progresses. Art. by The Nightbirds is just the pick. With this album, The Nightbirds deliver rock pieces that show range and conviction. Across its 10 tracks, the Seattle-based trio (with members spanning the U.S., Ireland, and Italy) channels a seasoned understanding of rock’s emotional breadth: riffs and visceral energy to slow-burn depth. The album opens with 2000 Miles. The track is a punchy, concise rocker that sets the tone with kinetic energy and guitar work. At just under three minutes, it works like a shot of adrenaline. It is direct, catchy, and confident. The track feels like a statement that this is a rock album unafraid to start strong and stay honest. The song that follows is WOOF. Here, the band leans into swagger and attitude. The tunes balance heavier guitar textures with a strong, fun spirit. This track’s rough edges and drive show that The Nightbirds are comfortable letting raw force carry emotional weight. Kings follows. The song slows the pace but deepens the emotional narrative with lyrical reflection and richer guitar layering. The track’s structure allows space for the verse and chorus to breathe. It works as a good showcase of the band’s ability to balance introspection with rock muscle. Similarly, Lewiston builds a narrative-leaning experience. With this piece, tension and release unfold gradually over a drum pattern and layered instrumentation. The heart of the album arguably comes with Augusta, a nearly five-minute track that combines contemplative verses with choruses. The song has a dynamic arc that moves from reflective to rousing. It gives Art. its emotional center and grounds the band’s more aggressive tendencies with thoughtful songwriting. Imperial Cruelty Extraction shifts gears again. It offers a punchy, concise burst of energy with riffs and driving rhythm that recalls classic rock urgency.  At over seven minutes, Ally is the most expansive track on the album. It’s a piece that moves through multiple segments. The piece is followed by FUNK (despite the title), which cleverly subverts expectations with a high-octane rock groove. It blends subtle funk influence with hard rock drive. We Thrash lives up to its name, delivering one of the album’s most visceral rock moments. The album ends with FATHER on a more reflective note. The track balances grit with atmosphere and offers a fitting emotional resolution to the record.  With the lyrics, the record touches on themes of identity, movement, struggle, and introspection. While some tracks unleash raw energy, others invite listeners into more contemplative spaces.  The album is a good fit for a movie like Almost Famous (2000). Read More

• 41 min
• 9