This may seem unfair to them, but I’m going to expect Rival Sons to release an album every year.

Even in a year like this, where we’ve seen purely world-class rock from around the globe, in the shadow of Head Down they all seem to lack just a little something. Because of that, what you are about to read may come across more as me drooling out a pool of obsession for their music than some bland book report-like review.

It has taken me quite some time to pick my jaw up off the floor. Stunning, authentic rock at is best is the frame in which Rival Sons have constructed Head Down. The thirteen track follow up to Pressure & Time takes a bar, which was set at awesome, and raises it to truly spectacular.

If you are a fan of the sounds that made 60s and 70s rock revolutionary or if you can even spell n-i-n-e-t-e-e-n s-e-v-e-n-t-i-e-s, then you have to hear this album. Whether it be the Allman Brothers like “Run From Revelation” or the Deep Purple nod in the sounds of “Until The Sun Comes,” there is comfort in Jay Buchanan’s voice, Scott Holiday’s fierce licks, Robin Everheart’s tearing bass and Michael Miley’s body moving beats.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they emanate qualities of yesteryear but are an incredibly original sound that should be noticed. Let’s face it, Paul Rogers is getting older (sorry Paul), but when a sound is greater than any single person it should be honored by keeping the soul and essence of that art alive. Rogers would be proud of “Jordan,” if not the entire album. The musical greats that laid the road to today should know with confidence that the torch has been passed into the hands of a very capable foursome from southern California.

Rival Sons play by their own rules. They are elemental rules of passion, artistic honesty, respect to the purity of rock and blues and unyielding conviction. Twenty years from now, their name will be in the same sentence as some of the greatest rock has offered.  We’ll be saying Free, Joe Bonamassa, Thin Lizzy, Eric Burden and Rival Sons without missing a beat.

I have no doubt Rival Sons knows how purely electrifying their sound is and I can’t help but continue to fuel the fire. Their music does not disappoint. Like a hypnotic blues riff, bleeding emotion into the depths of your soul, Rival Sons captivates and entices with their music. They were the rock album 2011 had been waiting for and this is the album that staples 2012 into memory. What will future bring? Not sure, but if the four from LA are involved it is a bright, bright future.