7/10
Ever since he brought his Night Sweats project to life with their self-titled debut LP in 2015, Nathaniel Rateliff has been one of the few modern soulmen to truly break international ground. Bringing his bright and lively approach to the southern blues-rock sound around the world, the band's place on the scene has been revered with almost everything they have produced in the years since. And with their previous offering 'The Future' still continuing that vibrant ascension, they are back once again to deliver their fourth studio album 'South Of Here', a record that keeps very much to the same vein they have always explored.
While there are the occasional moments that see them break out of their soul-infused aesthetic in search for something with a bit more power and bite, 'South Of Here' largely keeps that original shimmering formula alive throughout its eleven-track runtime. Keeping the warmth and emotive energy as high as possible at every turn, The Night Sweats make light work of these new efforts as they move with a swaggering confidence throughout each one.
Fans of the band will absolutely adore this new outing, while those just discovering them will certainly find plenty to enjoy here. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are continuing their passionate tenure with style and aplomb, something that many in their field can struggle with at this point in their career.