Near To The Wild Heart Of Life is the third studio album of Brian King and David Prowse, a Vancouver based duo known as Japandroids. They self-recorded their first album Post Nothing in the summer of 2008 with the intention of releasing it in the following year. Meanwhile, in the fall of 2098, guys concluded that the band has no future and decided to quit with work. Even though they did not want to go on tours or promote the album in question, they have decided to release it. In 2009, Japandroids agreed that independent Canadian label Unfamiliar Records releases their debut, no matter the hesitant future of the band. King and Prowse, frustrated by the fact that a record label showed interest in them after they have made up their minds to quit with music career, decided to give it another shot. They went on a short tour. What they didn't expect is that their album is going to become critically claimed. It even got them a record deal with Polyvinyl Records which distributed Post Nothingglobally. Even better sophomore Celebration Rock (2012) cemented their status of force to be reckon with and helped them generate bigger worldwide fanbase.
Near To The Wild Heart Of Life sounds like a lovechild of 70s rock and 80s punk. Archaic echo of rock 'n' roll anthems a la Thin Lizzy packed into dynamic of The Replacements is what makes this record thrilling. With their third full length material, Japandroids did not make a giant leap into the unknown. It all sounds like a plausible extension to CelebrationRock. You can perceive this on the first two songs, title track and North East South West. Guitar is not as dirty as before, King's vocal is purified, and the drum of David Prowse, even though sporadically frantic, delivers less energy. Still, both songs are based on the algorithm that made their first two albums enticing. New moments in their sound are related to electronic elements. Minimalistic Arc of Bar, acoustic guitar driven In A Body Like A Grave and atypical I'm Sorry (For Not Finding You Sooner) are total standouts. Midnight To Morning is impeccable guitar hit. Great melody and memorable chorus is everything this jamp needed to have to posses quality of a stadium hit.
King's verses have underwent the biggest change in comparison to the rest of their discography. While his past songs were soaked in melancholy and nostalgia, King is now oriented towards present moment and romantic feelings, which is probably a reflection of changes in his life over the course of five year hiatus of Japandroids. Near To The Wild Heart Of Life is primarily a good rock 'n' roll album, and even though it may not be as angsty as Celebration Rock, it contains variations that represent a clear step forward for the band.
