Danko Jones – ‘Leo Rising’

(Reigning Phoenix Music)

There are some bands that spend their careers chasing relevance, tinkering with trends or sanding off the rough edges to make nice with playlists and polite company. Danko Jones is not one of those bands. Leo Rising arrives like a clenched fist through a barroom door, reminding everyone within earshot that rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t need reinvention –it needs conviction. And Danko Jones has it in spades.

From the opening blast, Leo Rising sounds exactly like what you want a Danko Jones album to sound like – loud, lean, swaggering and unapologetically physical. This is rock music built from riffs you can chew on, rhythms that hit like a straight right and vocals delivered with a sneer that suggests Danko still enjoys this whole rockstar thing way more than he’s supposed to at this stage of the game. Spoiler alert - that enjoyment is contagious.

Danko’s voice remains one of the great weapons in modern Hard Rock. It’s gritty without being cartoonish, confident without tipping into parody. On Leo Rising, he sounds like a guy who knows exactly who he is and doesn’t care if you’re keeping up. There’s a sense of command here, less scrappy underdog, more seasoned street fighter who’s won enough bouts to stop explaining himself.

Musically, the album is pure Danko Jones DNA. The riffs are sharp and stripped down, never overstaying their welcome. These songs don’t wander; they strut. The guitars buzz and bite, favouring punch over polish, while the rhythm section locks in with the kind of tight, no-nonsense groove that makes you nod your head before your brain has time to weigh in. This is music designed for sweaty clubs, festival stage, and car stereos turned irresponsibly loud.

What Leo Rising does particularly well is balance familiarity with freshness. Yes, you’ve heard Danko Jones songs like this before, but that’s not a flaw. That’s the point! Like AC/DC or Motörhead, Danko Jones understands that the magic lives in refinement, not reinvention. The hooks are big, the choruses are built to be shouted back at the band and the tempos stay right in that sweet spot where headbanging feels natural rather than mandatory.

Lyrically, Leo Rising sticks to classic rock ‘n’ roll territory – confidence, desire, defiance and the thrill of living loud. Danko doesn’t waste time with metaphor heavy introspection or trendy social commentary. These songs are about attitude – standing your ground, knowing your worth and embracing the animal energy that rock music has always thrived on. There’s a playful arrogance to it all, but it never feels hollow. Danko sells it because he believes it.

The production deserves a nod as well. Leo Rising sounds crisp without being sterile, raw without being sloppy. Every instrument punches through the mix, giving the album a live-wire feel that suits the material perfectly. You can practically smell the amps warming up and the beer-soaked floor beneath your boots. In an era where so much rock feels overproduced into lifelessness, this album breathes.

What really elevates Leo Rising, though, is its sense of purpose. This isn’t an album made out of obligation or nostalgia. It feels energized, hungry, and proudly loud. Danko Jones isn’t trying to chase the past or court a new audience – he’s planting his flag and daring you to meet him there. That kind of confidence is rare and it’s refreshing.

‘What You Need’ opens the record with authority. A thick, swagger-heavy riff and a no-nonsense groove announce that Danko Jones is in full command. The chorus lands hard and fast, setting the album’s mission statement – direct, loud and built for movement.

‘Diamond In The Rough’ doubles down on grit. The riff is raw and muscular, with a garage-rock snarl that feels earned rather than nostalgic. Danko’s vocal delivery here is pure confidence.

‘Everyday Is Saturday Night’ brings the party attitude front and centre. It’s upbeat, bouncy and tailor-made for packed dance floors and raised fists. The hook is instantly memorable, capturing the band’s love for living loud and stretching the weekend mindset into a lifestyle.

‘I Love It Louder’ is exactly what the title promises. This is Danko Jones at maximum volume, built on a driving riff and an irresistible chant-along chorus. It’s shameless, infectious and absolutely meant to be played with the dial turned to 11.

‘I’m Going Blind’ shifts the energy slightly darker. The tempo pulls back just enough to let the heaviness sink in, with a more brooding groove and a sense of tension simmering beneath the surface. It adds depth without losing muscle.

‘Hot Fox’ snaps things back into high gear. Sleazy, sharp and playful, it leans into classic hard rock attitude with a wink and a grin. The rhythm swings hard, making it one of the album’s most immediately fun tracks.

‘It’s A Celebration’ lives up to its name, delivering a straight-up rock anthem built for shouting along. Big chorus, simple structure, and undeniable energy –this is Danko Jones keeping things gloriously uncomplicated.

‘Pretty Stuff’ adds a bit of swaggering groove, letting the band stretch out just enough to show their feel. It’s smooth but still tough, balancing attitude with restraint.

‘Gotta Let It Go’ carries a punchy, forward driving rhythm that feels almost cathartic. It’s tight, focused and relentlessly catchy!

‘I Can’t Stop’ barrels forward with pure momentum, fuelled by urgency and attitude. It’s relentless, refusing to slow down or overthink itself.

‘Too Slick For Love’ closes the album with confidence and strut. The groove is rock solid, the hook sticks, and it feels like a final, defiant grin before the amps cut out, perfectly summing up Leo Rising’s unapologetic spirit.

Is Leo Rising going to convert people who don’t like straight-ahead hard rock? Probably not. And honestly, it’s not trying to. This album is for the lifers, the ones who still believe a killer riff can fix a bad day, that rock ‘n’ roll should be fun and that volume is a feature, not a flaw. If that sounds like you, Leo Rising will feel like a shot of adrenaline straight to the spine.

In the end, Leo Rising does exactly what a Danko Jones album should do – it rocks hard, moves fast and leaves you wanting to throw on a leather jacket –even if you’re just heading to the supermarket. It’s loud, proud and gloriously unpretentious. No gimmicks. No apologies. Just rock ‘n’ roll doing what it does best.

Turn it up. Then turn it up again.

8/10

Essential Track – ‘Diamond In The Rough’

Review By Woody