What makes Feral Roots by Rival Sons notable?

The album debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart and received positive reviews from major publications like Rolling Stone and NME. Its success helped cement Rival Sons' position within the modern rock scene and showcased their ability to blend classic influences with contemporary themes. Feral Roots is Rival Sons' sixth studio album, released in early 2019, following their critically acclaimed 2016 album, Hollow Bones. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their reputation as a leading force in contemporary rock, having garnered significant attention for their powerful live performances and unique sound.

Who is Feral Roots for?

Feral Roots works well if you're into raucous energy for road trips, gritty vocals for late nights and cathartic sing-alongs with friends.

How many songs are on Feral Roots?

Feral Roots has 11 tracks, running approximately 47 minutes.

Feral Roots

Rival Sons · 2019

47 min · 11 tracks · hard rock

A raw blend of blues-infused rock anthems and soulful ballads that capture the band's gritty essence.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Do Your Worst — As the opening track, it sets a confident tone for the album with its driving rhythm and catchy chorus, embodying a spirit of rebellion.
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Feral Roots — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of primal instinct and emotional depth, featuring dynamic shifts that highlight the band's musical range.
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Look Away — This track showcases a more contemplative side of Rival Sons, blending introspective lyrics with soaring vocals that demonstrate the band's emotional versatility.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

Feral Roots showcases strong songwriting and production, balancing energetic tracks with reflective moments.

What we noticed

The first track, 'Do Your Worst', opens with a driving guitar riff and maintains an aggressive tempo throughout its duration.
Several tracks feature dynamic shifts, such as 'Stood by Me', which transitions from a slow ballad to a more powerful chorus.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

raucous energy for road trips
gritty vocals for late nights
cathartic sing-alongs with friends
soulful grooves for celebration

Maybe skip if you

prefer instant gratification tracks
avoid lengthy, immersive pieces

Where this album fits

Career context: Feral Roots is Rival Sons' sixth studio album, released in early 2019, following their critically acclaimed 2016 album, Hollow Bones. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their reputation as a leading force in contemporary rock, having garnered significant attention for their powerful live performances and unique sound.
Stylistic neighbors: Greta Van Fleet· The Black Keys· Wolfmother