It's safe to say Tyler Bryant's music transcends eras and styles. Although the Texas native and his band, The Shakedown, fit into the modern hard rock scene (credit for that goes to buzzsawing riffs and gigantic melodic hooks), he feels like a throwback to an earlier time when guitars were king. The group's music nods to heavy classic rock with a faint hint of twang, while Bryant's solos combine Slash's aggression with the blues-based fluidity of Jack White and Gary Clark, Jr. classic rock.

Bryant also defies vocal categorization. At times, his gritty tones nod to the late Scott Weiland, while other moments find him affecting the somber timbre of a country-blues warbler. Naturally, his 2017 full-length, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, bares its teeth thanks to nuanced production, which allows the band's diverse influences to shine through.

Bryant came to his unique sound gradually. He was initially steered toward music in first grade after discovering Elvis Presley. When he was 11, Bryant met a blues guitarist named Roosevelt Twitty, who changed the course of his life by inspiring him to create music and follow his muse. Later, seeing The Black Crowes made Bryant finally start a band.

His diligence (and historical grounding) has paid off handsomely. In 2013, Bryant toured with guitar legend Jeff Beck, who often tapped him to jam during the encore. Recent years saw Bryant's band opening for Clutch and Blackberry Smoke, as well as earning slots at the Download Festival, Welcome to Rockville, Fort Rock, and Rock on the Range.

Live, Bryant exudes guitar-hero vibes as he shreds out solos and wails at the microphone — energy matched by his bandmates, who amplify the power generated by the frontman. Highly anticipated new music from the troupe will no doubt expand their influence to even more eager fans.