Rise
You have to give The Answer their dues –they do what they do darn well – but even within their chosen genre, Rise is just a bit too by-numbers.
Shilpa Ganatra, 16 Jun 2006

Thanks to the retro instincts of Wolfmother and The Darkness, there won’t be a lengthy hunt to dig out our flares – which we’ll most definitely need for the debut album from Downpatrick’s second finest. (After Ash, people, Ash).
It is, unashamedly, '70s rock through-and-through, with Cormac Neeson’s voice imitating Robert Plant’s obsessively. And although they've borrowed heavily from Led Zep over the past six years, Rise proves they’re not afraid to stray away from their influences.
‘Memphis Water’ is far more of a bluesy number, and ‘Sometimes Your Love’ struts down the path trodden by Free all those years ago. ‘Always On My Mind’, meanwhile, is as close to a ballad as they come, even though the cheeky lads blatantly nick the organ bit from The Who's ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’.
You have to give The Answer their dues –they do what they do darn well – but even within their chosen genre, Rise is just a bit too by-numbers. It's bad enough to rest on your own laurels, yet alone someone else's.
Shilpa Ganatra

Latest Related Articles For This Artist
Fourth album New Horizon is released September 30.
News: 2013-05-20
Fourth album New Horizon is released September 30.
News: 2013-05-20
The Downpatrick rockers took time out for some music and a chat.
News: 2012-06-15
Latest Related Videos For This Artist
They’ve toured with AC/DC, hung out with the Stones and inspired Def Leppard. Now, The Answer are ready to step up to the next level with their poppiest album yet.
2011-10-11 - Interview
The Downpatrick rock band announce details of their Irish tour
2011-06-23 - News
It’s a position not many bands can boast about, but The Answer have lasted some 118 shows opening for AC/DC, one of the toughest jobs in rock.
2009-11-30 - Interview
Northern Ireland rockers The Answer today release a new single ‘Comfort Zone’ ahead of their biggest ever headline tour.
2009-11-23 - News
The Answer have played to almost a million people on the current AC/DC tour. Not bad for an indie hard rock band from Norn Iron. Singer Cormac Neeson gives us the skinny on Angus Young’s love of Rory Gallagher, meeting Alice Cooper, and why Hunger is required tour bus viewing.
2009-06-11 - Interview
The Norn Iron rockers have announced two pre-Christmas shows.
2009-05-19 - News
Disappointingly derivative second album from northern Irish hard rockers.
2009-01-27 - REVIEW
Ireland's The Answer have pulled off a major coup by bagging the support slot on the American leg of AC/DC's Black Ice tour. Cormac Neeson talks us through their first fortnight on the road.
2008-11-24 - Interview
Hot Press’ favourite classic rockers, The Answer, are to open for AC/DC on the North American leg of their Black Ice World Tour.
2008-10-13 - News
Stuart Clark gets in among the giant plastic inflatables as The Answer add The Who to their growing list of celebrity rocker fans.
2007-07-25 - Interview
Stuart Clark gets in among the giant plastic inflatables as The Answer add The Who to their growing list of celebrity rocker fans.
2007-07-12 - Interview
News and gossip from the domestic front with Roisin Dwyer.
2007-05-04 - News
Yup, Northern Irish rockers The Answer are to release a single just in time for Christmas.
2006-11-20 - News
Winners of the Classic Rock Best New Band 2005, The Answer, kick off their November tour of Ireland today.
2006-11-09 - News
Ugh, sweaty cock-rock from Ulster; not rough enough around the edges to provide a genuine visceral thrill, not silly enough to be pop, not catchy enough to be a hit, not in possession of a strong enough hook to stick in the memory, not a single thing to recommend it. If this is The Answer then perhaps we need to change the question.
2006-10-25 - REVIEW
It'll take more than a clapped-out tour bus to stop The Answer emulating their heroes. Ed Power hears how the Downpatrick rockers' burgeoning fan club already includes Jimmy Page and Philomena Lynott.
2006-07-19 - Interview
Downpatrick hard rockers The Answer hit the road next month with their AC/DC-endorsed Rise album.
2006-06-23 - News
Currently being ousted in the ‘70s flare-rock stakes by Wolfmother, The Answer are back to reclaim their territory with this funky track from their debut album, Rise. Paying, ahem, intense homage to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, the foursome present an explosive, confident front, founded by some serious rock’n'roll and a guitar solo that would do Black Sabbath’s Tommy Iommi proud.
2006-05-24 - REVIEW
To coincide with the release of their new single ‘Into The Gutter’ and first album, Downpatrick’s The Answer are touring. For, like, months.
2006-05-05 - News
Annual article: The NI music scene in 2005 provided as much excitement and fun as your average Irish League season.
2006-01-09 - Interview
If you’re going to tell a lie, tell a big one. If you’re going to make a retro rock record at the tail end of 2005, make it a huge one. 'Never Too Late' is a juggernaut of a track that sweeps aside any suggestion that it should belong in the ‘70s through the sheer force of its energy and self belief. Quite where they actually fit in is a different matter, but this is hard to argue with.
2005-11-30 - REVIEW
If you’re going to tell a lie, tell a big one. If you’re going to make a retro rock record at the tail end of 2005, make it a huge one. 'Never Too Late' is a juggernaut of a track that sweeps aside any suggestion that it should belong in the ‘70s through the sheer force of its energy and self belief. Quite where they actually fit in is a different matter, but this is hard to argue with.
2005-11-25 - REVIEW
The Answer, Belfast's answer - heh heh - to The Darkness, will be playing a couple of live dates in support of new single 'Never Too Late'.
2005-11-24 - News
Unreconstructed Downpatrick rockers The Answer are brewing up a whirlwind of hype. But frontman Cormac Neeson admits their good humoured hair-metal may never be cool
2005-09-02 - Interview
The Darkness achieved the unthinkable by making hair metal popular again. The Answer, on the other hand, see themselves as more serious rockers and Northern Ireland’s, eh, answer to Led Zeppelin. Full of energy and yelped vocals ‘Keep Believin’ is a confident first step but they’ll need to work on melodies as opposed to white noise if The Answer are going to stand out from the crowd.
2005-08-17 - REVIEW
Downpatrick upstarts The Answer will play live dates in Belfast and Dublin this December
2004-11-08 - News
hotpress.com
Blogs on hotpress.com
Additional Sites on hotpress.com
Contact Us
Hot Press,
13 Trinity Street,
Dublin 2.
Rep. Of Ireland
Tel: +353 (1) 241 1500
Email:info@hotpress.ie
Click here for more contact information.
Click here to find out more about Hot Press
Hot Press always welcomes feed back so if you've got something to tell us click here.
Advertise With Us
For more detail on how to advertise with Hot Press click here or call us on +353 (1) 241 1540
©Hot Press 2012. Why be a member? | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About Us Jobs @ Hot Press



