These guys kick up some rowdy punk rock using a burlier fuzzed out tone to try to fool you into thinking they are metal band. The vocals are howled with sleazy abandon. "Bird Days" has more groove and swagger than the opener but reminds me more of Faster Pussycat. So do not let the mustaches and posturing of the band fool you because they do not have long teased out hair or are draped in scarves. There is plenty of that influence buried here, even if it comes from the crossroad of influence Faster Pussycat came from in the early 80s because they were the one glam band that crossed over into punk rock. The scratchy higher pitch of the vocals helps support this case. If you were to ask do these guys have more in common with the Dead Boys or Aerosmith, I am not sure I could come up with the answer quickly.
There is an even more straight forward approach to rock n roll in the shuffle of "Poor Ole Me". While I like the darker direction of the lyrics it is more straightforward than what I normally listen to. The acoustic guitar on "Set Me on Fire". The direction there are going works, the execution leaves something to be desired as the vocals waver off key. "Sharper Than a Switchblade" finds them more firmly planted in what they do better. This is not their strongest vocal melody as it follows the guitar too blindly, so song relies more on than the riff. By "Sky Burial" the formula which largely works off of a sound at this point begins to run out of gas. Does it slow into a cooler riff? Yes, but you know the rule around here is ... cool riffs alone does not a good song make.
The singer from the Cancer Bats joins them on the more aggressive "California Death Rattle'. It carries more weight and sides the band more closely to punk, which might be a better mood for them . The same can be said for the explosive "You Can Hear the Devil Walkin " that closes out the album. I will give this album an 8.5, it works better when they play to their strengths but even the moment in-between are fun.
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