The Zac Schulze Gang is back, and on the evidence of "Betterland," their no-nonsense debut album, "Straight To It," will be an uncompromising mix of blues inflection and rock intensity. Available via Ruf Records, the trio, featuring guitarist and lead singer Zac Schulze, his brother Ben on drums, and bassist Ant Greenwell, churns out a track that feels both urgently now and fresh as a daisy, displaying a maturity far advanced from their previous blistering live work.
"Betterland" makes itself felt as an exercise in taut, driving force. Zac Schulze's guitar playing is tight yet impassioned, lacing together blistering solos with riffs that gnash while possessing melody throughout. And it isn't just a display of technical ability. Thanks to the chemistry between Zac, Ben, and Ant, every bar becomes some full-throttle jackhammer beat that requires your attention. The drums snap and roar, the bass rumbles with authority, and they constitute a backbone that makes the track feel almost kinetic.
The track showcases a smoother side of the band, yet retains its distinctive blues-rock bite. "Betterland" is a twist on an old sound. A sound that feels real, but not sloppy, with a flattering, if slightly fastidious, arrangement from the trio, who are both producers and songwriters in their own right. After A-list plays of "High Roller" on Planet Rock and support from BBC Introducing as well as Radio Caroline, this fresh cut firmly establishes The Zac Schulze Gang as a band to keep an eye on.
With "Straight To It," the name really does say it all. There's no filler, no hem and haw, just three musicians at the top of their game delivering a record that grabs you by the collar, pulls you into the pocket, and doesn't let go. "Betterland" isn't simply a song, it is an open invitation to come along for the ride.