Death by Rock and Roll
by The Pretty Reckless
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 33
  3. Negative: 1 out of 33
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  1. jbuck
    Feb 12, 2021
    10
    AMAZING!!!!! It feels like it’s own entity, definitely a different sound from their other projects but not too different that they lost what made them special. I love the emotion and the energy of the whole album. It feels very authentic and honest. They did it again!!!! I’ve been waiting so long.. hopefully they’ll release more often
  2. dcg-vr
    Feb 27, 2021
    10
    It's been quite a while since a modern rock album made me this excited and thrilled. I can't pinpoint a single reason why I am in love with this record so much. Perhaps it is the love letter to rock music and the celebration of rockers who passed away in "Rock and Roll Heaven". Perhaps it is the 1960s-inspired tender somberness of "Got So High". Perhaps it is the powerful anthem ofIt's been quite a while since a modern rock album made me this excited and thrilled. I can't pinpoint a single reason why I am in love with this record so much. Perhaps it is the love letter to rock music and the celebration of rockers who passed away in "Rock and Roll Heaven". Perhaps it is the 1960s-inspired tender somberness of "Got So High". Perhaps it is the powerful anthem of reclaiming a chaotic world accompanied by Tom Morello's epic riff in "And So It Went". Perhaps it is the introspective contemplation of life and death of "25", a track worthy to be the next Bond song. Perhaps it is the delicacy and vulnerability of the beautiful acoustic "Standing At the Wall". Perhaps it is the blockbuster collaboration with Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil and drummer Matt Cameron. You get the point.

    From start to finish, it has been an immaculate rollercoaster of emotions and a mesmerizing listening experience. Taylor Momsen continues to demonstrate her incredible vocal prowess while other band members deliver thrilling guitar riffs and powerful drumming. Musically, from adrenalized hard rock tracks to slow ballads and stripped-down country songs, the overall sound manages to keep itself coherent and imaginative. Lyrically, each song offers the listeners insights into the grief and hope and the sorrowness and joy of life as the band contemplated the death of their longtime producer Kato Khandwala and their idol Chris Cornell. In the end, the overall uplifting sound of the record shows that regardless of how depressing and cruel life can be, everything will sort itself out eventually. I cannot recommend this album highly enough and I have the audacity to proclaim that this album will be one of the best 2021 records.
    Sidenote: Prepare to handle the tears after listening to the poignant album closer "Harley Darling"

    Highlights: Only Love Can Save Me Now, 25, My Bones, Standing At The Wall, Rock and Roll Heaven (actually please check out every song because they are all bloody brilliant)
    Rating: 9.5/10    … Expand
  3. vlasama
    Aug 10, 2021
    10
    This album is my favorite. I like all albums from The pretty reckless. But this one is perfect.
  4. Skydog
    Feb 20, 2021
    7
    Going into the review I have never really listened to this band outside of singles as, let me be honest, they were sort of bland when they started out.
    But this album I feel shows their mature growth toward doing what they wanted (i'd assume) from the get-go.
    Some songs on the record stood out more than others, "Rock 'n Roll Heaven" being one. Fantastic guitar playing and mesmerizing    Going into the review I have never really listened to this band outside of singles as, let me be honest, they were sort of bland when they started out.
    But this album I feel shows their mature growth toward doing what they wanted (i'd assume) from the get-go.
    Some songs on the record stood out more than others, "Rock 'n Roll Heaven" being one. Fantastic guitar playing and mesmerizing vocal range nail this one as probably the best song on the album.
    "Harley Darling" ends the album, but it's probably my second favorite. I know I've picked two "ballads" as my top two choices, but they are just so good.
    "And So It Went" and " Only Love Can Save Me Now" are probably my other two favorites.

    There's quite a few tracks that didn't click with me and felt odd on the album. "Broomsticks" was unnecessary for the album. "Witches Burn" was meh as well. "Standing At The Wall" And "Turning Gold" did very little for me as well.    … Expand
  5. invisible69
    Feb 13, 2021
    10
    It took them a while to come back but they sure did it with a bang!!! Definitely worth the wait!!!
  6. MusicGuyMack
    May 12, 2021
    7
    Little more than well-made, slickly produced meat-and-potatoes hard rock, though admittedly never laying claim to being anything else, "Death By Rock and Roll" receives a supercharge of bat-out-of-hell energy from both Taylor Momsen's stellar vocals and the skillful musicianship of her bandmates that's often more than enough to forgive lyrics that regularly succumb to blandness and cliche.Little more than well-made, slickly produced meat-and-potatoes hard rock, though admittedly never laying claim to being anything else, "Death By Rock and Roll" receives a supercharge of bat-out-of-hell energy from both Taylor Momsen's stellar vocals and the skillful musicianship of her bandmates that's often more than enough to forgive lyrics that regularly succumb to blandness and cliche.

    Choice Cuts: "Death By Rock and Roll," "And So It Went (feat. Tom Morello)," "25"    … Expand
  7. dark1yuuki
    Feb 16, 2021
    10
    Ein sehr spannendes Album. Mir gefällt, dass die Band damit neue Schritte gegangen ist. Für mich ein gelungenes Album.
  8. wsrai
    Feb 13, 2021
    10
    o álbum está incrível, é além da qualidade das músicas é tão bonito ver como eles conseguiram transformar o sentimento de luto em arte
  9. lust4d13
    Feb 23, 2021
    10
    É o álbum da carreira! Eles recuperaram o que tinham em 2012 através de uma incrível abordagem psicológica.
  10. AndyPollack
    Sep 29, 2021
    8
    Great album!

    Better than “Who You Selling For,” but not quite as good as “Going to Hell.” Standout tracks for me are “Death By Rock and Roll,” “Only Love Can Save Me Now,” “And So It Went,” and “Witches Burn.” I had a little trouble paring down that list to only four tracks (out of twelve); there are no filler tracks (although “Rock and Roll Heaven” and “Harley Darling” are borderline    Great album!

    Better than “Who You Selling For,” but not quite as good as “Going to Hell.” Standout tracks for me are “Death By Rock and Roll,” “Only Love Can Save Me Now,” “And So It Went,” and “Witches Burn.” I had a little trouble paring down that list to only four tracks (out of twelve); there are no filler tracks (although “Rock and Roll Heaven” and “Harley Darling” are borderline because they’re a little cheesy.    … Expand
  11. RealRebel1986
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    Amazing album with songs that truly capture the spirit of rock n roll. Taylor and the band put so much effort into this incredible body of work.
  12. Allwitchesburn
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    The Pretty Reckless had proven that firm every suffer something amazing can be done. Their best album.

Critic Reviews

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No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Feb 12, 2021
    80
    Death By Rock And Roll is their first attempt to claw back what they had. Fortunately it’s brilliant.
    Read full review
  2. Kerrang!
    Feb 12, 2021
    80
    Their most confident collection yet, full of persuasive rock songs in which Taylor, her voice punchily prominent in the mix, holds court on a variety of important topics.
    Read full review
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    Feb 12, 2021
    60
    It’s a challenge to come away from ‘Death By Rock And Roll’ with much of a sense of who The Pretty Reckless really are. A pastiche of their epic rock ambitions? Something deeper? It’s that tension that frustrates and fascinates.
    Read full review