Desert rock is the self-penned term East London-based three-piece, The Howlers use to describe their sound and listening to the band’s debut album ‘What You’ve Got to Lose to Win it All’ it’s a term that’s certainly fit for purpose. 

The record bursts to life immediately with the anthemic opening track ‘How Long’ and it’s immediately accessible. This is one of those tracks you’re convinced you’ve always known. One of those tracks that on first listen sounds like it’s always existed..; it’s not the only one on this record. It’s a massive track and sets the bar incredibly high for the rest of the record. 

‘I Need Your Love’ ‘To Make A King’ and ‘El Dorado’ all follow and it’s more of the same, track after track… massive, cinematic, immediate anthems… these guys certainly know how to write a festival-ready, arms in the air chorus or eight! 

The desert rock ‘motif’ is evident throughout this record, but there are no cliches here. Once the album’s intro is out of the way it’s an incredibly subtle, recurring touchpoint and the perfect compliment to Adam Young’s distinctive vocals. Adam has that kind of throaty, shallow vibrous vocal style that can often sound underwhelming but on this record, it works wonderfully. 

There are tender moments, ‘Cowboy’s Don’t Cry’ ‘Wanting, Waiting, Wishing’ and ‘When The Flowers Bloom Again’ all show the more delicate side of the band.

The closing track ‘Take It Easy’ is pure garage rock at its finest and is a wonderful way to wind up the record. If you were in any doubt about immediately playing the record again this track seals the deal and makes sure you go right back to the start.

With ‘What You’ve Got to Lose to Win it All’, it would be fair to say The Howlers have sound-tracked my summer, make sure they soundtrack yours.

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