Canada's greatest export ever, Danko Jones, have been flying the flag for rock and roll music ever since they combined to wreak havoc on the world in 1996. The band have almost single-handedly revived rock and roll from the untimely death many have predicted or wished upon the genre, churning out hit after hit with consummate ease. Armed with a swag of rock gospel albums, including We Sweat Blood [2003], Sleep Is The Enemy [2006], A Rock Supreme [2019], Power Trio [2021] and Electric Sounds [2023] and a relentless touring schedule, Danko Jones not only live and breathes rock and roll. They OWN it.
A band that very much lets their music do the talking, Danko Jones are set to release their latest album, Leo Rising, on November 21, further solidifying their place in the annals of rock history. HEAVY caught up with Danko Jones himself to find out more. One of the things we discuss is the relative simplicity inherent in Danko Jones' music, with the band allowing the songs to dictate terms rather than try to change things up just for the sake of it.
"I don't really think there's a need to reinvent the wheel of rock in 2025," he offered. "But at the same time, there's still room for making it sound fresh. So that's kind of our goal. We're not trying to create a new genre of rock music, but we're just trying to make it sound fresh."
We ask Jones to dive deeper into the musical side of Leo Rising.
"It doesn't change," he shrugged. "Every album is the same, as the next one will be the same, which is just try to write a whole bunch of tunes that I like - or that we like. I write to please myself first and foremost. If I don't like it, I can't back it. That's not to say that there were songs on our previous albums that I don't really like, but you're striving for perfection."
In the full interview, Danko emphasised the importance of creating songs that resonate with him rather than conforming to current trends. We discussed the collaboration with guitarist Marty Friedman on the song Diamond in the Rough, highlighting the significance of timing and ensuring the song suited Friedman's style, which resulted in a standout guitar solo.
The conversation delved into the complexities of naming the album, with Danko noting the challenge of selecting from nearly 200 song titles. The title Leo Rising was chosen to connect with their first album, Born a Lion, symbolizing thematic continuity as they look ahead to their 13th album.
Danko also discussed the challenge of maintaining musical integrity amidst industry changes, asserting his commitment to their sound and more.
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