Pirates Press Records – 06 May 2022
The Drowns continue their rock and roll evolution on their rock solid new EP.
The Drowns released their debut album in 2018, and they haven't slowed down since. Actually, they haven't stopped evolving since. They almost seem incapable of standing still. Even as the world ground to a halt, they were working on the songs that would become Lunatics. The Seattle quartet must have spent a good chunk of their time in quarantine listening to The Sweet, Dr. Feelgood, and Slade. Musically, glam and pub rock loom large on Lunatics.
Lyrically, the album is clearly influenced by the pandemic and political acrimony of the last couple of years. That's obvious from the opening song on side A, “Live Like Yer Dyin'”. The lead vocals on Lunatics are split evenly between guitarist Rev Peters and bassist Andy Wylie. Peters' raspy howl is on full display on the opener. It's a revved up (no pun intended) rock and roll song with just enough punk. Wylie sings the title track, which is straight up fun despite the serious subject matter. His more melodic delivery is also featured on “The Working Dead”, a catchy nod to the band's blue collar roots.
Peters is back to lead off side B of the six song EP with the angry, anti-catcalling anthem “She's the Knife”. “Look What We've Become” is an outlier on the largely upbeat Lunatics, but may be the record's best song. The track starts off acoustically, then becomes something closer to country rock. The message is the key, with Peters reminding us that more unites us than divides us. It's an impassioned call for the civility we've lost. “Tokyo Red Alert” is a Wylie sung tour horror story that ends things on a high note.
The Drowns warned us of their shift in direction with their previous single “Know Who You Are” (2022). There is only a slight lingering trace of the band's street punk roots on Lunatics. It's mainly a high energy rock and roll album. That in itself feels like an active response to the difficulty of the last couple of years. Lunatics is a great record, even if stylistically it's not Under Tension (2020). The songwriting is strong throughout, but for fans who fell in love with the band only two years ago this might take some getting used to.
When times are light, rock and roll music has the ability to be our conscience. It reminds us that people around us are still suffering. When times are heavy, it can serve the opposite role. It reminds us that no matter how tough life gets, there are still things worth celebrating. That's Lunatics in a nutshell.
For vinyl fiends: The cover of Lunatics gives me an MC5 meets Gary Glitter vibe. I'm not exactly sure why, but I'm not complaining. The EP is available on 12-inch wax in black, or limited quantities of blood red, royal blue and white with blood red and royal blue splatter.
Part-time punk writer, suburban dad and angry old man. Follow my adventures on the Punk Till I Die podcast!
