Californian blues-rockers RIVAL SONS have just released their new album, Pressure And Time, in Europe. The album is due to be released on July 26th in North America via Earache Records

Noted for their eclectic playing styles, the band's rhythm section of Michael Miley (drums) and Robin Everhart (bass) took some time to talk about their styles, influences and icons.

Michael Miley: "I grew up loving CREAM, THE BEATLES, McCartney and Lennon solo, as well as some of the muso music like STEELY DAN and PHIL COLLINS. My first albums I bought when I got my first drum set (aged 9) were MÖTLEY CRÜE - Shout At Te Devil and MADONNA (self-titled). In high school and college I got heavily into jazz (big band and bebop) and FRANK ZAPPA. My favorite drummers are Keith Moon, Mitch Mitchell, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Jeff Porcaro, and Vinnie Colaiuta. Mostly, I like drummers who play from the gut; with feeling - no thinking - and that's what these always offered me."

Robin Everhart: "Growing up I remember listening to a tape in my Dad's car, lots, called T'n'T. It was a compilation of THE TEMPTATIONS and THE FOUR TOPS, and it was pretty much the best thing I'd ever heard! So funky! And that BASS. Also, around this time I also got into EARTH, WIND & FIRE - Verdine White on bass being a HUGE part of their sound. This was around the time we got to pick our instruments in school. Our school didn't have a string program, so I picked up saxophone instead, 'cause I'd been listening to my dad's Getz/Gilberto, Dave Brubeck (Paul Desmond on sax) and Henry Mancini Pink Panther vinyls...

"Sax was going okay, but by this time my brother was already playing out in bands, and I had changed schools 'cause I was bored and getting bad grades and getting in trouble at my old school. As a reward for a good report card I finally got a bass. I learned everything that was going on at the time: PEAR JAM, NIRVANA, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, PRIMUS, etc. But then I REALLY got in John Pattitucci, and Jaco was officially down the rabbit hole. I searched out all their bands and contemporaries. From there, and from RHCP I got really into funk: JAMES BROWN 'In the Jungle Groove', PARLIAMENT / FUNKADELIC / P-FUNK ALL STARS. I also got into '60s MILES DAVIS classic quintet, and on and on.

"Then it was jazz school. Also got heavily into The Beatles in college, and underground hip-hop. And classic hip-hop: A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, THE PHARCYDE, BEASTIE BOYS. My bass heroes would have to be James Jamerson, John Paul Jones (LED ZEPPELIN), John Entwistle (THE WHO), John Patitucci, LARRY GRAHAM, Verdine White, PRINCE, Flea, STING, PAUL MCCARTNEY, Paul Jackson Jr., and Paul Chambers."

Fans can pre-order Pressure And Time now on CD and limited edition audiophile vinyl in North America here.

Rival Sons new music video for the track ‘Pressure And Time’ can be seen below:

The track ‘Torture’ from their recently-released, self-titled EP is available to download now for Rock Band here.

Rival Sons live dates are as follows:

June

24 - Bilbao, Spain - Azkena Rock Festival
26 - Imola, Italy - Sonisphere Festival
28 - Zurich, Switzerland - Dynamo Werk 21

July

1 - Dortmund, Germany - FZW Visions Party
2 - Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter Festival
3 - Arras, France - Main Square Festival
5 - Oslo, Norway - Baa
6 - Kalskoga, Sweden - Putte Parken Festival
8 - Weert, Netherlands - Bospop Festival
9 - Knebworth, UK - Sonisphere Festival
12 - Leeds, UK - Cockpit 3
13 - London, UK - Borderline

July (with JUDAS PRIEST, QUEENSRŸCHE)

15 - Newport, UK - Newport Centre
16 - Manchester, UK - O2 Apollo
17 - Doncaster, UK - The Dome
19 - Glasgow, UK - SECC
20 - Newcastle, UK - Metro Arena
21 - Wolverhampton, UK - Civic Hall
23 - London, UK - High Voltage Festival
24 - Bournemouth, UK – BIC