Danko Jones – Leo Rising

Written by on 29-12-2025 at 16:25.

Danko! Danko! Danko! Where are the days when Danko Jones would tear up the main stage of rock festivals in the early afternoons? Nearly two decades ago, this band was the go-to reference for a guaranteed good time on the festival field. Uncomplicated rock ’n’ roll with a touch of Ramones-like haste, “motivational speeches,” and a cult persona you could only address with deep respect. Songs about sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. What times those were. The band was so universally loved that it managed to conquer pop, rock, punk, and even metal festivals alike with its infectious formula.

The core of that formula: “it doesn’t have to be complicated, as long as it’s loud and fast”, has hardly changed at all. Amplifiers set to position overkill and the like. Leo Rising is album number thirteen. One might reasonably ask how many songs you can write about being a tough guy, picking up women, downing pints, and rocking out old-school over the weekend. Danko Jones is clearly far from done with that subject matter and continues to churn out albums at a blistering pace. Since 2015, the band has released a new album every two years, like clockwork. Zware Metalen has, therefore, reviewed the releases Fire Music, Wild Cat, A Rock Supreme, Power Trio, and Electric Sounds over the past ten years. These albums were received positively to very positively, though it must be said that the true glory years of this trio lie in the first seven albums that preceded them. Some of the spark that flew off those early records has faded since. Strong songs still surface here and there, but overall the pace and lyrical creativity had dipped slightly.

With Leo Rising, the band rediscovers that old spark. Opener What You Need comes charging in with a sharp tempo, a clear message, and a great vibe. Diamond In The Rough continues that trend and sounds as if the band has become tangled up in its glory years once more. Marty Friedman’s solo work on this track pushes it from “really good” straight into “absolute banger” territory. Tracks like I Love It Louder, It’s A Celebration, and Gotta Let It Go further underline the good vibes and the balls-to-the-wall tempo, with the latter being the most instantly memorable. On Everyday Is Saturday Night, things get a bit too brainless for my taste. Listing the days of the week and celebrating weekends reminds me a bit too much of the infantile pop we mindlessly regurgitate en masse like zombie cows.

I’m Going Blind opts for a slightly more rockabilly vibe and is slower than most other tracks, but its successor Hot Fox is once again a highlight and standout on the album for me. A typical riff and an immediate vocal entry make it crystal clear what this is all about: hammering and blasting riffs. The vocal production also really shines here, sounding more natural and less overproduced than on previous efforts. As a result, the music comes across as more authentic—and above all, more impactful.

All in all, we get eleven above-average Danko Jones tracks, with slight variations in quality here and there. Still, the band could hardly have chosen a better title for the album. Leo Rising presents Danko Jones with renewed grit, glowing sparks, more speed, and simply better songs than most of what appeared on the last few albums. Leo Rising is clearly a significant step up. Those looking for groundbreaking innovation won’t find it here, but if you enjoy rocking out in the car on a Tuesday morning, this is a perfect record to crank up. I also just noticed that the stars seem to be aligning nicely, as Danko Jones is set to reclaim an afternoon main-stage slot at Graspop 2026. The Leo is clearly rising.

Score:

79/100

Label:

Reigning Phoenix Records, 2025

Tracklisting:

  1. What You Need
  2. Diamond In The Rough
  3. Everyday Is Saturday Night
  4. I Love It Louder
  5. I’m Going Blind
  6. Hot Fox
  7. It’s A Celebration
  8. Pretty Stuff
  9. Gotta Let It Go
  10. I Can’t Stop
  11. Too Slick For Love

Line-up:

  • Danko Jones – Vocals, Gitaar
  • John Calabrese – Bass
  • Rich Knox – Drums

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