It’s easy to describe Dead Root Revival’s sound as old school—guitar focused rock and roll played with a Southern flair—but with songs derived from front man Tom Savage’s socially conscious worldview, DRR is a band fully in tune with the zeitgeist.
That’s clearly evident on the Kingston, Ontario-based quartet’s new album, The Controller’s Exam, a sweeping 11-song collection now available on digital platforms, CD and double vinyl. Dead Root Revival has released a handful of live albums—capturing all the grit and energy of their shows—making The Controller’s Exam technically their debut. Yet, it was also recorded in a live setting with renowned producer David Barbe (Sugar, R.E.M., Drive-By Truckers) at Chase Park Transduction Studio in Athens, Georgia.