Self-released, 04 Jun 2023
Finland’s Angry Adults are new to me, but when I hear that a Ramonescore band has something new out, I feel a little more motivated to give it a fighting chance. Dust And Weight isn’t the first stuff from the band, with a few other releases dating back to 2019 (and all available at the Bandcamp link below). But it is the newest, arriving over this past weekend.
The album opens with an instrumental titled, um, “Instrumental III”. It’s a forward-moving number with a lead guitar that reminds me of a Screeching Weasel instrumental – super melodic and a solid start. The follow-up “Take Care” is well-played, with good pace, melodic bass, and strong guitars playing a catchy chord progression. The vocals go in-and-outta tune (something the band readily brag about) and have a touch of angst behind ‘em. “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Mind” has the same basic components, but the song slows down a little and has a really strong vocal hook on the chorus – and I really like the drum changes, tossing in a little shuffle during a bridge and a couple of really fun fills. The title song is a faster number with maybe my favorite lead guitar on the release popping up on the bridge. The 5th song, “Guess I Need You” is a catchy barnburner that romps by faster than anything else on here. Interestingly, the production seems decidedly different for the 59 seconds the song lasts, a bunch more raw and lofi from the rest. The final song, “Waste Away My Heart” is a mid-tempo pop song that revels in self-deprecation and a mid-fi approach that lands somewhere between the production of the first four songs and “Guess I Need You”. I think the in-and-outta tune vocals might challenge a few listeners, but I found them pretty endearing. Same goes for the production quality shifts during the final third. But I found a lot to like here. The songs are catchy, well-written, and well-executed.
- Favorite Song: “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Mind”
- Album Release Date: 04 Jun 2023
- Purchase/Pre-Order/Pre-Save: Bandcamp
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ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He’s very secretive, he might be an alien.
