Released a couple of years ago, Red Brick City, the collaboration between father and son duo of Biff and Seb Byford saw them form their own project under the name of Heavy Water. Now, Byford Sr and Jr are back for round two with their new album, Dreams of Yesterday. While it seems that it’s strictly an albums project due to Biff being busy with some band called Saxon and Seb working with his new band, Sun King, they’ve managed to find time to create an excellent set of ten tracks that manages to up the ante from the first album.
Despite not road testing these songs or taken the first album out for some shows, Dreams of Yesterday shows a musical partnership that is even better and stronger. This album sits in that space of not quite a departure but not quite picking up where the last album left off. It’s more self-assured, grittier, heavier and far more varied. It doesn’t sound like a father and son indulging each other at any point across the album and is all the stronger for it.
There’s far more bombast to be found on this album, not least the title (and opening track) which whilst citing 1965 West Coast of America’s music, it wouldn’t sound out of place on an early Black Stone Cherry album with its Southern tones and chugging riff. It’s far more muscular than anything which appeared on the previous record and it’s an immediate sign that the Byfords aren’t messing around. Likewise, “How Much Can You Take” is soaked in fuzz, blending indie tones with metal sensibilities and droning bass, it’s one of the few songs where Biff appropriately takes the lead vocal duties. It’s a song which crackles with energy, the guitar surging through it at points like a shot of lightning to be a mighty and fearsome highlight on the album.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
Elsewhere, the band know how to drop a gear with the intro of “Castaway” led by Seb’s vocals before it builds into a filthy rocker of a song powered by Biff. Whilst the heel turn feels like it comes from nowhere, it manages to work by providing a half-step between the change. However, whilst it would be nice to see where the sombre intro would have gone if they’d kept that tempo for the other four minutes, they do find space for a couple of proper mellow moments in “Never Love Again” and the album’s closer “Life to Live”. As both the Byfords take their turn on leading a verse on the former, Seb manages to portray a world-weary atmosphere, belying his age which his father is able to pick up seamlessly for his turn, adding extra grit and heft with the layer of authenticity.
Meanwhile, the latter is one of the cleanest songs of the album, Seb’s vocals are impassioned, gritty and guttural at points whilst his cleaner moments are pretty, laced with a hidden venom and hurt. It’s also on this song which features a guest appearance from Callum Witts on keys and it’s one of those songs where I’d love to hear a full album of material like this. It’s complex yet simple at the same time, marrying soulful moments with aggression without being heavy handed and whilst his dad is one of metal’s most iconic voices, it’s not a song which wants for the elder Byford.
There’s also the swagger of “Don’t Take it For Granted”, its driving bass powering the track against the swing of the drums. And swagger makes its return on “Shadows of Life” with its stomping drums pummelling against the blues-infused guitar. But it’s the final few tracks where the album really picks up the pace with “Another Life” blending old school punk with 60s British invasion, “Be My Saviour” could be the Foo Fighters at their trademark stadium-slaying frantic speed while “Chain Reaction” drops a single gear but is still keen to keep up with its predecessors.
Admittedly, Dreams of Yesterday was a welcome surprise, given the first album’s inception. However, the duo have managed to build on what was there and elevate it on every level. There’s still some hints of Naked Six found and Biff manages to break out that famous howl of his in a couple of instances whilst managing to serve the song. It’s grungier, grittier, darker and frankly, a far more interesting listen that the debut. It’s varied whilst managing to be consistent, something they’ve lifted from the first album. They might not go out and tour with this album either and it’d be a damn shame if they didn’t as these songs were built for it but if not, chuck it on in the car as you head down the motorway, it’s the perfect album for it.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Dreams of Yesterday is out now
Header image by Steph Byford
Check out all the bands we review in 2023 on our Spotify and YouTube playlists!
