Canadian rock band Sierra Pilot are showing no signs of slowing down. It’s been a busy couple of years for the band, with the successful release of multiple hit singles, big shows, and a planned tour alongside Skid Row and Buckcherry. While the tour has been postponed due to illness, Sierra Pilot is still hard at work, and have just released their new full-length album, Phantom Pains.
“Although singles, and EPs to a lesser extent, seem to dominate the current music landscape, the idea of crafting an entire album was always at the forefront of my mind. All my musical heroes wrote and released full records and it feels good to be in that company now,” says frontman and singer-songwriter Taylor Leith, of making the new album.“The guys in the band are well-seasoned players and the chemistry we have on stage is phenomenal.”
Featuring the band’s five most recent singles, Phantom Pains consists of nine original tracks that cover a lot of musical ground. The album kicks off with “Alive”, a big anthemic, stadium rock sound with melody and edge. Then “Adrenaline” brings a more accessible and catchy style. From there, “Keys to the City” is the kind of song you can’t get out of your head, and then “The Thief” slows things down a bit to build interest. “Kerosene” is another sultry track with a huge chorus, followed by the singalong style of radio-friendly “Thunder and Rain”. “Never Be Lonely” has all the trappings of a love song wrapped in a rock ballad, with “Mouthful” bringing back the edgy style the band is known for. The album ends with the title track, “Phantom Pains” – probably the most emotionally charged song on the LP, and the perfect way to close out this sonic journey.
While the entire album is worth a proper listen – especially in correct order, for an experience as the band intended – a couple of the songs stood out most to me. The first being “Keys to the City”, which is sure to appeal to the rock fans. But it’s more than just a straight-ahead rock song, as it balances the edgy rawness with an incredible infectious appeal. It has bluesy, almost Southern rock undercurrents and a huge singalong chorus. This is a track that will have audiences screaming along with the band as they tour Canada with Skid Row and Buckcherry in the spring.
The next stand-out song for my personal tastes was their most recent single, “Kerosene”. The deep, captivating vocals combined with a seductive style and swagger create an irresistible allure. As this track shows, Sierra Pilot has a knack for crafting songs that pack a punch while remaining accessible and undeniably memorable. You can catch these songs live at the 102.1 The Edge Sugar Beach Session with the band on October 19th, as well as on their Canadian tour this spring with Buckcherry and Skid Row.
Stream Phantom Pains by Sierra Pilot on your preferred platform:
Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music
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