PHIL X & THE DRILLS have just released their latest album Pow! Right In The Kisser! out now via Frontiers Music. To give folks a taste of the bounteous offerings, the latest single Fake The Day Away is also out now, accompanied by a music video available below – the track featuring drumming powerhouse Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe). Known for their unique fusion of punk, classic, and modern rock infused with guitar virtuosity, Phil X and the Drills have carved out a distinctive spot in the rock world—and they’re kicking it into high gear with this upcoming release. The band—featuring guitar hero PHIL X (Bon Jovi) on lead vocals and guitar and Daniel Spree on bass and backing vocals—is pulling out all the stops on POW! Right In The Kisser, with an all-star line-up of guest drummers including Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), Ray Luzier (Korn), and Tico Torres (Bon Jovi), among others.
The journey of this band has always been one of relentless passion and perseverance. From their early days stirring up the Hollywood rock scene in 2003, to their breakout EP ‘Kick Your Ass in 17 Minutes‘ (2009), the band has always kept fans hooked with their high-energy sound and jaw-dropping performances. As PHIL X became a YouTube sensation through his work demoing vintage guitars for Fretted Americana, the band’s visibility skyrocketed, eventually evolving into the current powerhouse. Over the years, the band has worked with an incredible roster of guest drummers, including Josh Freese ( Sting, Foo Fighters), Abe Laboriel Jr. (Paul McCartney), and Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), among others. Their most recent release, ‘Stupid Good Lookings Vol. 1′, showcased the band’s knack for pushing boundaries and delivering unforgettable rock tracks. For this album, Phil and trusty co-conspirator Daniel have Brent Fitz on most drums & background vocals – I’m left guessing who beats the skins on each track….
In 2024, the band hit a new career milestone, opening for Mötley Crüe at Summerfest in Springfield, IL, where their performance left 10,000 fans and industry professionals in awe. Now, with POW! Right in the Kisser, they’re set to take the next big step in their musical journey. About the album, PHIL X shares: “‘POW! Right in the Kisser’ was a good 10 years in the making. ‘Battleship’ was tracked in 2014. I just kept writing & we’d record & then kept the whole ‘different drummer on every song’ thing going. It became a very special collection of songs & vibes. It’s very exciting for me to share something like that with the world.”
Okay – enough of the background adulation! – we kick off big-style with Don’t Wake Up Dead, a full-on boogie-rant that features Ray Luzier on drums. A riff that grinds yer goolies is the mainstay of the number, as you might expect, I’m straight away in awe of the sheer NOISE that these three are able to generate – its a superbly produced arrangement giving PHIL full rein on his fretwork capabilities! Followed by the latest single Fake the Day Away, a down-tuned, darker, more Metal track that still features great vocals from The Man himself – see the video below. One thing that immediately strikes me the musical versatility of these guys, and its not often I’m able to report that about rock trios? It doesn’t seem fair that one guy is able to play so superbly and also sing so well!
Heal is next, more full-on fresh rock, not so sure about the vocals on this one. Find a Way has a raunchy, 70’s stomp to the beat but delivered in a fresh way. Boingy keys punctuate it, and some razor sharp licks top it off. Moving to California is classy heavy rock, what more to be said, except there’s a Weezer-style chorus that I’m not too sure about! You Sunk My Battleship and Seemed Like a Good Idea continue that American mainstream rock vibe, all good without reinventing too much? Broken Arrow is another single off the album, it starts gently and is a fairly laid back number for these guys, I love the stonking bassline.
I Love You on Her Lips is yet another hugely radio friendly track – could almost be Blink 182, it reminds me so much or the early days of MTV. Feel Better is in the same vein, More timelessly decent rock harmonies. The set concludes with Way Gone (Beam Me Up, Scotty), classic Phil X. Dont ask me why but it kinda reminds me of an updated, more rocky form of Weezer’s ‘Buddy Holly’? It’s that mix of strong harmonies, punchy delivery, very college rock radio friendly – all in all it’s good fun and great entertainment!
