ALBUM REVIEW: Trucker Diablo - Social Hand Grenade

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Trucker Diablo - Social Hand Grenade

They’ve been plying their trade for over 15 years and show no signs of stopping. Social Hand Grenade, the latest album by the Northern Ireland quartet is everything you’d want from a band whose hard rocking style has cheered thousands at festivals and indoor shows throughout the UK and Europe. 

Trucker Diablo

Written over a period of two years, Social Hand Grenade is stacked with those hard rock anthems that demand a beer in hand and a fist in the air. With roots firmly fixed in their metal influences, the opening salvo of Kill the Lights (featured here earlier this year) and Stop the Bleed set the stall out early. It’s a heady mix as always with Trucker, not all 100mph by any means, and the Americana vibe of California on The Run shows the lighter side of the band. It’s a neat song that allows singer and guitarist Tom Harte scope to open his melodic side, aided by some delicious harmonies. 

Here Come the Vultures continues the variation, and although Harte’s instantly recognisable vocals are front and centre, there’s some delicate background work here before the riffs crash in and the band are off and running once again. There’s more fist pumping riffage on Dig, a corker of a track that should be excellent fun live. It’s rolling riff is a real earworm, and it’s impossible to hear it and not hum it for days afterwards. 

Trucker Diablo

Inevitably, the band tackle a ballad or two, and Here’s to Heartbreak shows the gentler side. It’s not the worst ballad due to the heavier than anticipated vibe. That award goes to the closing track, What I See, which I’m sure is deep and personal, but for me is the one area I struggle with. Sure, Trucker Diablo do it well, but for me, this is a band who really are at their best when they are flying along. 

Overall, though, Social Hand Grenade is a stadium sized album. If it had been released by the likes of Black Stone Cherry, then I’m sure it would be huge. As it is, this is a fine sixth album from a band who never let you down. Let the 45-minutes play, and then hit repeat. It’s worth that at the very least.


Social Hand Grenade is released on 25th October
Review and live photos by Hutch


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