Red Scare Industries – 09 Jun 2023
Death By Downstrokes Ain’t A Bad Way To Die
Wanna be a fly on the wall of an AA meeting held at a Warped Tour backstage Green room? Inquire within. The first step in recovery is admitting you have a problem and Tane Graves of Tightwire is obviously an open book, conducting a rock n’ roll symphony with some stellar musicians and chasing down his inner demons. They’ve grown from a power trio into a quality quartet since the last time we heard them and the arrival of Noelle Stolp, who’s already doing really rad things in Rational Anthem, is a sound for sore ears. A welcome addition making for a seamless transition into the second vocalist slot on the bands sophomore offering.
Blazing a well traveled trail on the way to the show it seems only appropriate to pregame and, as Pkew Pkew Pkew would say, “we like getting drunk before go out drinking” and the title track and opener “Head Full Of Snakes” is like the round of road sodas and the alley beers before the show begins. Is this Dawn Of The Dead? It’s almost as if it’s an allegory, an ominous introduction, almost like an allusion to the horror show that’s about to start, the antagonist to the major chords and harmonies that hide the devil in disguise. The nuances of nu metal and screaming feedback send chills down the spine like nails on a chalkboard. Sound familiar? Fans of their previous release will notice striking similarities from the outset and now It’s time to really get the “Party” started, binge drinking and sounding a little like The Lillingtons before lighting up with “Smoke Machine.” The bassline in this one screams for attention by channeling Karl Alvarez and giving me ALL the feels as they’re blurring the lines between verse and chorus which happens frequently. “Every night is a Saturday night…” If they keep this up they’ll be bigger than KISS!
Switching gears, “One Foot In The Grave” starts off with an acoustic guitar which is soon replaced by a sea of distortion and harmonies, swapping the Ooohs for Aaaahs. It’s a little like This Addiction era Alkiline Trio and might feel ever so slightly slightly different from its brethren, more orgcore in comparison, but it’s our first taste of that self deprecating humor that I’ve grown to love while their softer side lingers a little on “Anyone But You.” Released as a single in 2021 it sounds like it could have been a b-side from Six Feet Deep but there’s so many similarities between the two releases, they’ve clearly found a fabulous formula and before you know it, they’re back on their bullshit on “Bad Things,” with a call and response in the string section and signature high harmonies. They clearly haven’t changed all that much so, after the success of their debut album, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief now that we’re half way through as it’s a lot more of the same. 30 seconds in and you’re singing along as you should be. Catchy choruses are the crux that create their distinguishable sound.
Now it’s time to turn it up and if I had to guess, all their amps go to eleven. “Bitter Pill” hits you with a wall of overdriven sound and a ballsy backbeat. Is it super saturated string sounds or synth punk? Either way, it’s thick. With the vocals delivered in a staccato style it makes it feel rigid as if you’re sharing the discomfort with the storyteller as it overwhelms the senses and I’m hearing The Headies amidst a reoccurring theme of self loathing. Is it therapeutic? “Nobody likes you.” You know why? Because you make “Bad Decisions” and just like a sadistic scene from Saw complete with downbeats and dissonance, it’s the longest song at just over 2 and a half minutes and my overall favorite. It feels like a marathon in contrast to all the sprints but hey, it’s still another singalong! We graced with the presence of more walking basslines as the intensity continues to build until ending in bloodcurdling screams. It’s almost as if it’s a nod to the more abrasive vibe in the album’s intro with a hint of hardcore and just to highlight the difference they hit you with “Shakin’,” an 18 second banger that reminds me of ”Jon Has Anxiety” by The Dopamines “Just give me a bottle and a gun so this can all be done.” Damn, that’s dark but I definitely dig it but hey, they’re just here for a “Good Time” and the next track lives up to its name. Live fast, die young, drink till you drown and sleep when you’re dead. The repetitive chorus makes it easy for the crowd to come along for the ride and its sex drugs and rock n’ roll for the win. Ok, maybe there’s no sex.
Unfortunately, sometimes the rock n’ roll lifestyle catches up to you and it’s time to go to “Rehab Again” coming full circle and paying the piper but they really know how use a spoon full of sugar to make the medicine go down. There’s nothing like donning fancy dress to disguise the darkness and they do so expertly, hiding touchy subjects in plain sight with major chords and massive melodies and the occasional intermittent palm mute in the pocket. It’s a celebration of sorts with a single chord chorus and slick and quick guitar solo and it’s no surprise that a band from the twin cities sounds a little like Dillinger Four. Closing down the record with sour candy is “All Alone On Christmas,” another depressing ditty that’s like the musical equivalent of the aftermath of the coffee drinking dog surrounded by fire meme and seemingly inspired by Dan Vapid. Everything’s fine! Just kidding, this is really just a moment of self reflection and the realization that self destructive behavior doesn’t just affect yourself. What a wild ride!
From my perspective it’s almost as if it’s an accidental concept album charting the course of an addict who’s partying goes from positive in its earlier iterations to problematic in the end. Art imitating life. Our humble narrator has been open and honest about his struggles and I applaud the therapeutic effort put forth. Sometimes, when you say the quiet part out loud, it can be cathartic. I’m just happy I get to hear it. On its face it’s likely to be seen as simplistic but every listen reveals another layer and these Ramonescore renegades are putting the pop in party punk. There’s a sonic strut in the walking basslines, hard hitting high harmonies, pounding power chords, and charmingly self deprecating yet somewhat relatable lyrics. The only thing missing are stories about what they will and won’t do in a basement. Unless it’s substance abuse. I assume that goes without saying. Cocaine’s a hell of a drug…
With 12 songs in under 20 minutes with two of those surpassing the 2 minute mark, It’s short, it’s sweet, and Head Full Of Snakes leaves the listener wanting more just as it should. I just hope it’s not another 5 years until the next one because I’m certainly looking forward to hearing more from them in the future but, make no mistake, when this one ends up being the 2nd Red Scare Industries release on my AOTY list this year “I don’t wanna say I fucking told you so, but I fucking told you so.”
Jerred Lazar is a make believe musician and wannabe writer attempting to survive in Washington DC
