Believe it or not New World is the first full length studio album to be released by The Paladins since El Matador in 2003. That was a fairly decent record which was marred by shockingly poor sound quality. They have released a couple of live albums, an EP and a greatest hits package in the interim.

Guitarist, songwriter and the band’s principal vocalist, Dave Gonzalez ventured away from The Paladins to pursue a wonderful project that was known as the Hacienda Brothers. That highly acclaimed band which was led by Gonzalez and Chris Gaffney explored a genre that they called Western Soul. The band recorded two studio albums, their debut self-titled release and its follow up entitled What’s Wrong with Right. Both were produced by legendary songwriter Dan Penn who explored similar themes in the 1960’s at the Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and at Chip Moman’s American Studios in Memphis. The Hacienda Brothers however had a distinctly Southwestern feel that was all their own. They recorded an exceptional live album at the Cowboys and Indians Festival in Oslo, Norway, which was entitled Ranch and Town. Their final studio album was entitled Arizona Motel. In 2008, Chris Gaffney died at the age of 57 of liver cancer.

Now nearly a decade later Gonzalez is back in the saddle and leading the charge with his old band. He wrote nine of the eleven tracks and thankfully is doing all the vocal work this time out. He is joined once again by longtime bandmates, bassist Thomas Yearsley and drummer Brian Fahey. Yearsley served as the project’s recording engineer as the album was recorded at his Thunderbird Analog Recording Studio in Oceanside, California. This time out the sound fidelity is outstanding.

New World might come as a shock to long time Paladins fans as the album opens with three somewhat contemplative Gonzalez originals. He then delves into a simply beautiful instrumental, Mar Solitar, before returning to more traditional fare with If You Were Only Mine. The Paladins don’t hide these songs or bury them in the set list. For better or worse they shove these reflective, geo-culturally themed tunes at listeners right out of the gate. This might be the way to present them in concert as well.

It may be a new world, but songs about women and relationships are still present. Highlights are the Yearsley penned Wicked as well as Gonzalez’s originals Magic Touch and Without Love. The second Gonzalez instrumental is also a favorite. It has a wonderful late 50’s Duane Eddy feel to it and reminds listeners, yes this is really a Paladins album.

This recording has an overall relaxed maturity to it. This may not be what fans have come to expect as their live shows exhibit some of the most raucous music ever performed. They play with a reckless abandon that can almost overshadow their absolutely authoritative musicianship.

On New World Gonzalez’s singing is not just an afterthought; he delivers his messages, whatever they might be, with an earnestness and sincerity that is refreshing.    

So, after all these years, have The Paladins mellowed? Has age finally caught up with this powerful trio? Upon experiencing a recent live performance, the answer is decidedly NO. They still perform like a runaway freight train which is barreling downhill at breakneck speed threatening to run off the rails at any moment. 

The Paladins still attract a somewhat younger crowd and that is extremely refreshing. Now these hipsters have something to bring home with them that might stimulate some reflection, while of course, they remain perpetually cool.

- David Mac