LP Review: "Quarter Life Crisis" by Ben Katzman's DeGreaser

Quarter Life Crisis

Personally, I'm a sucker for a catchy turn of a phrase. Ben Katzman caught my attention with Quarter Life Crisis.

That's the title track of Ben Katzman's DeGreaser's latest record. There's other great tracks like Too Old For Retail that hit me right in the feels.

I got out of retail when I was 28. I still bear the scars of that career path all these years later.

It takes a bit more than some bad ass titles and funny lyrics to catch my attention for longer than just a song or two though. What Quarter Life Crisis features is some great songs.

These tracks are one part D.R.I., one part Suicidal Tendencies, 1 part Metallica, and 1 part Kiss. So, this album is a little bit angry, a little bit silly, and a big bit of party time. The songs bounce. The guitars shred.

But best of all we can relive those delightful days of the late 80's and early 90's with the hardcore punk thrash metal crossover bands. The addition of the Kiss element is why this record is so damned good.

There's a great deference paid to D.R.I., Suicidal Tendencies, The Cro-Mags and the rest, but it's got a different vibe that turns it into something else no matter how eerily familiar it might be.

Release: 10/12/18 BUFU Records BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

Album Review: "Mass Confusion" by Dust Bolt

In many ways thrash is the subgenre of music which permanently put heavy metal on the map in the United States.  Sunset Strip glam metal was hugely popular and slightly preceded thrash.  However, many argue glam metal is not true metal and it has clearly fallen out of favor.  (I believe glam metal is true metal, it has never fallen out of my favor, and I continue to worship at its altar regularly, but realize it has its detractors).   

The Florida death metal scene was also an American contribution, and has a tremendously devoted fan base, but has failed to produce any genre transcending iconic bands.  

Thrash on the other hand, having hit its peak during the height of  American metal interest in the late 80, produced some of metal music’s few undeniably metal household names, such as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax.  In addition, thrash has remained a viable genre, with new thrash albums blasting their way into our ears regularly.

Album Review: "Zamboni" by Zamboni

Although Zamboni describes themselves as “the worst band ever to attempt any form of music” I actually found their eponymous debut album very good.  If nothing else this long awaited and oft delayed amalgamation of metal and hardcore punk album is a ton of fun in the exact sort of spirit one would expect from such a combined genre. 

  Nine short ferocious songs, which make you want to run around the room, jump on furniture and break things. 

One thing that stood out to me was the production on the drums, which sounded clear and crisp in stark contrast to the buzzsaw guitars cutting through each track with unrelenting energy.  

Since I listened to the album and drafted this review before reading the band’s biography, I did not realize this was partially due to band dismissing their drummer during the recording process and replacing him with recorded drums on four of the nine tracks.  Even live Zamboni has opted to move forward as a two piece plus a drum machine.