RTF Records, 07 Apr 2023
I’m a little late to this one, but New Jersey Ramones-influence punks Freezeheads have a new 3-song EP available called 96 Rats. That one arrived 07 Apr and can be purchased name-your-price over at Bandcamp. Anyone who pays attention to my ramblings knows my love of this sorta thing when it’s done right, so I had to give 96 Rats a listen.
First thing I noticed was the song lengths. None of the 3 songs crosses the 2-minute mark, so that’s the start of a winning formula in my book. The opener, “Gut”, buzzes and propulses with a real power, the guitars and bass share space remarkably well and the drums pound just right. The vocals are minimal and angst-ridden, making for a fun shout along as soon as I figure out some of the words. Follow-up “Seven Dead Soldiers” plays with the same sorta formula, but is a little more melodic on the chorus and has a rhythmic hook that sticks. And closer “Wig Problem” opens with a bit more deliberate pace and power before kicking into the fastest pace on the album and then shifting back again. It’s a cool number, making this EP 3-for-3. The production is pretty right as well – it has a raw blast to it that buzzes with electricity, giving 96 Rats a real vitality. I really like this a lot and will be back for more. Check it out.
- Favorite Song: “Seven Dead Soldiers”
- Album Release Date: 07 Apr 2023
- Purchase/Pre-Order/Pre-Save: Bandcamp
First Impressions are whiz-bang reviews of singles, 7″s, EPs, and LPs which are given a review after a single listen. This is a great way for TGEFM to showcase some of the releases which may not get a full review on their own.
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ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He’s very secretive, he might be an alien.
