Danko Jones | Leo Rising | Perception

Release Date: November 21, 2025

Format: Album

Genre: Punk Rock

Country: Canada

Danko Jones has walked the rock circuit since the mid nineties, always on the move, always plugged into their own high voltage gospel of bass, drums, guitar and sweat. The Toronto trio built their name through constant touring, short nights of sleep and a catalogue that keeps their fans loud and loyal. Their line up has been solid for more than a decade and that stability shows. They work like a band that has nothing to prove to anyone, just a hunger to keep the machine running.

“Leo Rising” arrives as their twelfth full length, a number that signals how deeply they have dug into this life. The album opens with the swagger of “What You Need” and moves straight into the bounce of “Diamond In The Rough”, where Marty Friedman drops in and adds extra fire. The energy stays high through “Everyday Is Saturday Night” and “I Love It Louder”, a run that sets up the album’s attitude clearly. Danko’s vocals keep their familiar bite, backed by riffs that go straight for the gut without hesitation.

The middle section brings their trademark mix of cheeky lyrics and no nonsense strike. “Hot Fox” and “Pretty Stuff” lean into the band’s playful spirit, while “I’m Going Blind” and “Gotta Let It Go” drag the mood into more grounded territory, speaking from the well worn life of three musicians who spend most of their existence among suitcases and soundchecks. “It’s A Celebration” sits right in the pocket of pure rock adrenaline, a burst meant for live crowds who know how to shout every line back.

Eric Ratz returns to the production chair and keeps the trio’s sound punchy and immediate. Everything sits tight, loud and straight to the point, without unnecessary shine. The band recorded from separate locations again, a routine that clearly suits them. It does not blunt their chemistry, it simply reflects how they operate these days, always in motion.

“Leo Rising” captures Danko Jones doing what they do best. The trio hit hard, keep the tempo hot and deliver songs built for stages packed with sweaty strangers who just want noise and fun. This album will sit comfortably among their strongest work, sturdy and ready for the road, another loud chapter in a career that refuses to slow down.

Score: 8.0

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