Albatross Overdrive are a band from Huntington Beach, California made up of Dan Silva on vocals, Rodney Peralta on drums, Andrew Luddy on guitar and Davey Obade on bass guitar. I don’t normally do this but read this from Kamp Arizona.Edu – “Albatross Overdrive produces a rather generic metal-rock sound. Nothing is really distinctive about the group. That isn’t to say they aren’t competent, because as their website says, “We are an extremely attractive and polished band with high levels of formal music training. Our ears are honed to that of a canine and animal magnetism of a lion.” They’re ok, not great.” WTF, talk about missing the point ! Sure they are not original but they kick some major ass and have all the vital ingredients to wipe the floor with most other bands in the stoner-metal genre. We are not talking doom here or psychedelic or self-indulgent progressive metal, this is pure ass kickin southern style heavy rock played with feeling, passion and a good slice of soul especially in the vocals. My first impression was they sounded a little like Sasquatch and then realized they not only come from the same area but played gigs with that band in the Orange County area. Maybe that Sasquatch magic wore off on them somehow, if you like Sasquatch, Ride The Sun and bands of that ilk, then you will dig this.
From the opener “Big Bear” to the closing “Calico” this is back to back killer and there is no filler to be heard. The quality of the 70’s style riffage is so powerfully infectious you immediately think of the 70’s gods of bluesy rock, bands like Mountain, Captain Beyond and Cactus are just three that sound like they might have influenced these guys. From a modern perspective, this band crank up slow grooves to mid-tempo head-snapping passages which will knock you in the dirt. “Ghost Ride” is a song, so classic you think it has to be ripped off from somewhere but try to think where and you will come up empty. This gives the band their strength, they deliver infectious riffs and vocals and yet have their own identity. The playing is top-notch throughout the album and it has the mighty production to match. The tunes chug along with the force of a steam train, never stopping apart from the odd slow tempo shift. “Mammoth” is a song that immediately gets the juices flowing, it is all about the riffs man and this band seem to have an endless supply. In “Mammoth” the song takes off in a wild guitar solo section that only runs for a minute or so but you wish it would continue for an hour. It’s the kind of exciting rock and roll that can be matched by a swag of 70’s hard rock bands but very few from the modern era. The bluesy vocals in combination with the equally passionate guitar work is awe-inspiring enough but when it is backed up with the bands solid bass and drum pummeling, the end result is hair-raising. This is perfect driving music especially if you are lucky enough to own a classic 70’s muscle car, jump in, hit the gas and crank this monster up and you will have the time of your life.
Its is just as impossible to pick a favorite track as it is to find a weak track, “Cry Freedom,” “Coal Fire Woman,” “Tijuana Train Wreck” and “Calico” are all high-octane rockers and “Bad Mama Jama” is an early favorite for my song of 2011. This band has come into my world as a total surprise, when I received a burned copy of the album through a friend, I didn’t know what to expect but all I can say is this some the finest hard rock released on the un-expecting world in the last few years. It is no frills rock in some aspects but yet again, the band is very tight. They are not really original but yet have their own sound so can you get what I am going here ? You don’t ? Well neither do I, I just like blabbering on about this band. This band might be known by many on their local circuit by no one I have spoken to has ever heard of them and they are on the Train Wreckords label and I have never heard of that label either so they are a bit of a mystery to me. I am just glad they have found their way on-to my playlist, this is a great album……..9.5/10
Albatross Overdrive @ Myspace
doommantia 
Killer … Thanks for the heads-up. Needed some stirring stuff like this! \m/