Spaghetti Town Records – 04 Feb 2022
Ravagers hit the mark with their long awaited debut LP.
After the now typical pandemic delays, Ravagers’ debut LP Badlands has finally physically landed. I’m happy to report that it was well worth the wait. The Baltimore quartet has been playing live for a decade, and had previously released a pair of six song EPs and a single. Badlands is a brilliant culmination of their work so far.
Ravagers kick out an infectious style of punk and roll that feels heavily influenced by New York Dolls, Dead Boys and D Generation. They are the rare band who successfully combine the energy of first wave punk with sleazy rock and roll swagger. It’s punk enough for Ramones fans, but people who enjoy Skid Row and Faster Pussycat will probably dig it too.
Side A opener, “Down That Road”, might be the catchiest song on Badlands. Hell, it might be the catchiest song of 2022. Track two, “White Widow” isn’t far behind. Ditto the next eight songs. It’s earworm after earworm. “High on Stress” and “Losing My Grip” are relatable to far too many. Closer “So Long…” claims “I’m never gonna be your dog”, but the piano riff on “Shake the Reaper” might argue otherwise. It’s got Iggy and the Stooges written all over it.
Ravagers have dual guitars with great riffs, leads and solos. They have raspy lead vocals, memorable melodies, and sticky harmonies. They have well-written songs that know how to build tension and express the anxiety of the modern age. Their performances are rock solid and their production is excellent too. Ultimately, Badlands is a great record from start to finish. There have been a number of amazing, under-the-radar releases in 2022, but this might be the best one yet.
For vinyl fiends: I was slow on the draw and missed out on the brown/black splatter and red variants, so I settled for black. (I’m fine with that.) The cover art is fantastic, (and the back too), but the insert is the real star here. In addition to the lyrics and some cool white on black cartoon pictures, it folds out into a 16” by 24” band poster.
Part-time punk writer, suburban dad and angry old man. Follow my adventures on the Punk Till I Die podcast!
