Birds of Night

Too many bands today have forgotten the art of the killer guitar solo. We got to this period where progginess became a dirty word in the sort of circles we typically run in, and extended instrumental solos became a an even dirtier word linked to musical pretention -- though it apparently isn't pretentious to sing about sipping "Horchata" while wearing a balaclava (so there's no confusion, that's my favorite Vampire Weekend song but there's certainly a strange double standard here).

We're premiering "Asleep in the Pine," a tumultuous bit of Black Sabbath via Zeppelin guitar rock, from Texas rockers Birds of Night and it's beyond refreshing to hear an act let their hair down and just wail on their instruments. About two-thirds of the way through the song, an already thumping guitar track transforms into the sort of solo I'd have played over and over again on the school bus when I was a kid. It's the sort of guitar solo that makes you wish you could play the guitar because if you could throw that down at a party, you'd be king. Birds of Night are soaring from here on out. - Baeblemusic.com

Birds of Night have hidden out in Denton, TX, since 2011. Their third release, a self-titled EP, begs the question of how the band, with its genuine classic rock appeal, could have already released two albums and yet remain unknown. Birds of Night pushes for the nostalgia of southern rock and its distantly bluesy undertones, but with an added edge of modernity. The Black Keys are an easy comparison to draw, but it’s not quite right. The Black Keys are a glam revival, while Birds of Night are more like if rock never left. The EP slings out songs that each have their own distinctions, showing off what the band can do, and peaks in points of Southern Gothic. Though it's a bit unusual for a band’s third release to be a self-titled EP, it seems somewhat appropriate. For most listeners, this ought to be your introduction.

Admittedly, the aesthetic Birds of Night is drawing on is a bit dated. It’s inherently a little kitsch, and though Denton might be three hours from Austin, the vibes are similar. For the most part, the Birds of Night EP is good in a simple way, with clear musicianship, a solid rhythm, and an upbeat rock tone. It’s not always exceptional, but it has an undeniably broad likeability. The opening track, “Dark,” defines this immediately, and the mood is carried through the next two tracks.

Right at the point where you’d start to tune out, the band starts to do some things differently. It’s as if Birds of Night needs a few minutes to warm up before they’re ready to branch out a bit and show off what else they’re made of. “Big Shot” and “Some Kind of Man” are different in direct ways, with the former containing a softer, moody blues, and the latter being primarily a work of the piano.

However, “Desert Reflections” and “Asleep in the Pine” stand out in a less quantifiable way. Mostly, they’re simply darker. Yet, this darkness yields a huge richness to the sound. In line with their overall aesthetic, this darkness has a southern quality as well, a la the Southern Gothic tradition. “Asleep in the Pine” takes this on the most, and ends up being the most standout song on the EP. While the rest of the EP is reminiscent of a band playing in a bar, noted for its quality but on the whole ignored, “Asleep in the Pine” is what would make you turn your head. At seven minutes of consistent energy, it's the right way to end the EP - truly saving the best for last.

The Birds of Night EP proves the band does indeed know how to make rock music, but they ultimately overshadow what seems to be their main sound with the last track, which really knocks the rest out. Birds of Night, there’s a clear path you should head down. - In Your Speakers Media

We've said it on this site before, guitar solos are cool. These guys get it. There's something liberating about someone who isn't concerned with being considered show offy or pretentious. If you can do something with a guitar that's as impressive and musical as the gentlemen in Birds Of Night, you'd be doing us all a disservice by not sharing that. This solo abides by hard rock, metal guidelines. It's paced, biting, violent but at the same time gorgeous, and simply brilliant. This is the kind of high octane high energy shredding that's helped music stay exciting and inspiring. Thanks guys. - Baeble Music

Denton Texas’ Birds of Night are about to release their third record, Birds of Night on April 21st. The band draws influence from many different sources, Birds of Night is an album with a familiar sound. Their previous two records, Snaps and We’re A Family Now were both fairly bluesy and rooted in the 60’s. Birds of Night moves on to something more reminiscent of the ‘70s and we get some heavy, dark rock and roll.

The first track on Birds Of Night, “Dark” starts out with a roaring, fuzzed out bassline, which later becomes completely intertwined with a guitar part that floats both under and below it. The next track “Love Is Stoned” is a heavy track reminiscent of Black Sabbath. The album takes a pretty big turn at “Marfa Skies”, a poppy, upbeat rocker that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Real Estate record, if it weren’t for the distorted guitar. “Big Shot” is a killer track, the guitar work is some of the best on the record. Then there’s the badass, fuzzy, “Desert Reflections” which is a frenetic track with some insane drumming. “Some Kind of Man” slows the pace down before unleashing the epic closer, “Asleep In The Pine” which kicks into an awesome ripper of a solo about halfway through that’s as much Floyd as it is Sabbath.

Birds of Night is an awesome evolution of a band that’s only a few years old. There were personnel changes on this record, their guitarist and drummer left, but they replaced them with two incredible musicians in Jon Aisner (drums) and Alex Adams (guitar) which only helped complement the sound of Andrew Rothlisberger (Vocals & Guitar), and Brooks Martin (bass). These four, plus the production work of Midlake’s McKenzie Smith helped make Birds of Night one of the most complete sounding records we’ve heard so far this year. Be sure to pick it up when it drops on April 21. - The Revue

Birds of Night’s self-titled album comes out April 21, and the first single, “Dark” comes tumbling out the gate like a white-knuckled jockey riding a drunken horse. I think that’s a good thing. This Denton band’s sound is supremely tight and confident in a way that that only comes through good chemistry and lots of practice–most of the songs on the new album were apparently hammered out live long before they were recorded. But the song has a mind of its own, a nasty momentum this group is talented enough to tap into. Birds of Night are playing Three Links on April 25 to kick off a tour in support of the upcoming record. - D Magazine

Denton, Texas, rock quartet Birds Of Night will release its self-titled debut on April 21 and now offers first single “Asleep In The Pine” for free download. The intro of the track seethes with darkness, and the song evolves into a bluesy tune with great vocal harmonies. Birds Of Night brings a new edge to standard rock ‘n’ roll. Download “Asleep In The Pine” below. - Magnet Magazine

Should all that kaleidoscopic disco-joy begin to burn your musical retinas however, there’s a more monochrome blend of brilliance in the latest outing from small-town Texas gloom-rockers Birds of Night, whose thick-riffed self-titled third LP sees release on April 21.

Produced by Midlake drummer McKenzie Smith, their latest single cut from the album Asleep in the Pine is an opaque, widescreen effort of scrappily beautiful chugging melancholia, while Dark ramps up the aesthetic with enthralling propulsion.

Elsewhere Love is Stoned calls on both Sabbath and grunge for a whacking squall of screeching guitars, while Marfa Skies drifts towards early Kings of Leon in its gruff, gurning vocal hooks;Big Shot, meanwhile boasts the Deep South indie-rock blues at their absolute best on an album that, for all it’s stylistic variety, is still anchored by the prevailing murk of its enthralling atmospherics. - Getintothis.co.uk

Just because we rep Austin doesn’t mean we don’t look around Texas for great tunes from our neighboring cities, which is where we ran into Denton’s Birds of Night. The group’s new single has this guitar that cuts through the pounding rhythm section, tied in tightly with a great Southern vocal that wears a Texas drawl proudly. It reminds me a lot of local band A. Sinclair, just offering up a heavy dosage of great no-frills rock n’ roll. Their album, Birds of Night, was recorded by Midlake‘s McKenzie Smith at his Redwood Studio, so you know they’ve already caught the ear of some Texas heavy-hitters. Here’s to them reaching beyond our state line; look for the album on April 21st. - Austin Town Hall

Denton four-piece Birds of Night’s self-titled debut record, due out April 21, evokes the rain-slicked streets of London rather than the expanses of North Texas. Moody, stylish and laced with austere guitar, The Birds of Night (in addition to being another feather in Midlake drummer/ever-busier producer McKenzie Smith’s cap) is a wonderfully confident first showing, and a collection of material suggesting that its 35 Denton showcase will be one to remember. - DFW.com

Paying homage to rock and roll of the 1960's, The Birds Of Night show off their chops with We’re A Family Now. It’s jangly garage rock mentality makes it seem like a gem in the midst of the fools gold that floods the airwaves. Well, there is not of that here, this is pure in every sense of the word and it’s quite a privilege to get to sit down and listen. - Dingus