Amplified! - “Don't Drink the Poison”
A driving guitar riff, a catchy chorus and a good dose of classic rock energy.
Editorial Review | Partner Feature
I was hooked by the opening of “Don't Drink the Poison”. That first guitar riff has a great sound and the drums come in with just the right amount of punch. There's no long introduction or slow build-up. The song gets straight into it and before long the guitars turn heavier. I particularly like the way they move between those tight, rhythmic riffs and the more melodic parts. The vocals have a confident edge to them and the whole thing has a classic rock feel without sounding stuck in the past. Then there's the chorus. It's direct, melodic and incredibly easy to sing along to. Sometimes that's exactly what a rock song needs.
What I enjoy is how the track keeps finding ways to build on that energy. The guitars and vocals get stronger as the song progresses, but the arrangement never feels overloaded. After the second chorus, there's a guitar solo that leads into some lovely melodic backing parts. For a moment, it almost feels as if another solo is about to start. Then the drums take their turn with a short solo before the third verse comes in. It's a nice change of focus and it gives the song a little more room to breathe before everything comes back together. The final chorus really brings out the power of the track, with the guitars carrying that energy right through to the end.
Amplified! come from Dayton, Ohio, and are currently working on their tenth original studio album. That's quite a few records behind them. The band describes its sound as a mix of indie, classic rock and prog, with thick guitars, original arrangements and socially conscious lyrics. Over the years, Amplified! have also collaborated with musicians from The Darius Rucker Band, Sun, The Why Store, Slave and Sponge. They've even worked for Rush. It's an interesting list of connections, and perhaps gives an idea of the different musical backgrounds that have found their way into the project. They clearly enjoy working with other artists and aren't particularly interested in keeping their music within one genre.
“Don't Drink the Poison” is simply a lot of fun. I love the guitar riffs, the chorus gets stuck in your head and there's enough happening throughout the song to keep me listening. The little instrumental moments make a difference, too.
This is the kind of track I'd happily turn up loud in the car. A bit of singing along, a bit of headbanging and some good old-fashioned rock energy. What's not to enjoy?
🎧 Stream "Don't Drink the Posion” by Amplified! on Apple Music
Keep discovering independent music with our other On This Track, Three Track Week and Artist Features.
If you value our work, you can support independent journalism with a little tip:
Comments