Guns of Navarone
While the influence of bands like Uncle Tupelo and/or The Replacements might make themselves evident in the sounds of the Austin based four piece band Guns of Navarone, the band has skillfully crafted a sound that meshes their taste while maintaining a sound uniquely their own. The outfit’s debut full-length release Prize and Battlefield demonstrates a depth of songwriting talent and range. From the guitar-driven rock anthem “Resonate” to the country-tinged, whiskey-soaked “I Bid You Farewell” Guns of Navarone cover plenty of ground, and provide something for any fan of rock-n-roll. A year in the making, Prize and Battlefield demonstrates the bands patience and desire to perfect their songs and their sound.
“With Prize and Battlefield, you get exposed to something a little more raw, almost like a mix of Southern rock, pop and punk. The band also prefers to keep their songs short, driven by melody, and engaging without oversimplifying. Winning formula.” -KUT Austin Music Minute
“Prize and Battlefield is 10 tracks of the real deal – it will make you want to two-step and fist pump, simultaneously. This is the kind of music that makes me want to sit on a wide front porch, drink real root beer, and think about ex-boyfriends.” -Side One: Track One
Download Prize and Battlefield for review
Something like Ryan Adams on one of his better days, Guns of Navarone is led by vocalist and chief songwriter Cory Reinisch’s smooth, Southern crooning. Guitarist Seth Grueneberg’s angular guitar leads take the band’s songs in a far different direction. The rhythm section of Dustin Meyer and Richard Knox add the driving rhythms and subtle backbeats that make Guns of Navarone’s primed for two-stepping.
Guns of Navarone formed in the Spring of 2009, quickly releasing a three-song EP recorded with Test Tube Audio’s Kevin Butler. Glowing reviews brought comparison’s to “a dirtier Old 97s” (Austin Town Hall) and praised the band’s upbeat rhythm section and Americana sensibilities. Foot-stomping, whisky-swigging… all the usual hyphenated descriptors applied.
The follow-up to that three-song demo, Prize and Battlefield, was recorded over the past year. Slowly and meticulously, the band worked with producer Michael Landon and co-producer Chris James to craft an album that further blends folksy Americana, the best parts of Country music, and pop-friendly hooks.
Prize and Battlefield Released Nov 2011
Recorded, produced, and mixed by John Michael Landon at Premium Recording, Austin, TX. Co-produced by Chirs James * Mastered at Saff Mastering by Carl Saff.
Original art by Jessie Johnson * Photography by Jonathan McPhail
Pedal Steel by Kim Deshamps
Management / Booking: James Taylor at Giant Steps Productions