Truth Cult :" Walk the Wheel"

 

This Baltimore based band reaches back to a time when punk has something to say. The Minor Threat / Fugazi influence is more than apparent. Considering Fugazi is one of my favorite bands I am fine with this. There is also a kind of rock n roll recklessness that drives things once we get to " Resurrection". There is some call and response trade off on the mic with bassist Emily. This lends itself to a more melodic nuance. There is more noise rock feel to "Heavy Water". I like the angular touch to the riffs on this song. There is a more explosive Black Flag-tinged brawn to "Clearskin". They come closer to the side of Black Flag that flirted with rock n roll more than the hard-core side of the band.     

The rock side of the punk rock equation continues to be dominant on "Unstoppable". The vocal trade off with Emily is the songs strength. "Awake Asleep" which lean more into 90s grunge influenced phase of indie rock is a more interesting song. "Kokaine Kommado" is a better song title than it is a song, it's rowdy rock that is held together by a hefty bass line. The more sonic flourishes of guitar help it to win me over as it progresses. Emily's vocals are in the spotlight for "Naked in the End" which works well. Her voice is the more unique of the two and adds the softer touch they need to bring balance to their sound. That is not to stay she cannot add a more aggressive emotional element to her voice, it is just a more melodic touch that the husky shouts that are the norm here. They are not as testosterone drive as what Rollins does but try to invoke a similar feel. 

Every now and then they lock into a groove that steps outside of punk rock, these moments need to be milked longer. "What is Time" works off the more rocking guitars, with more of a 70s feel. "Medicine" closes the album. Despite the howl of the vocals there is a more melodic base to the song, that is sonically colorful. I will give this album a 9. Is it the most original piece of punk that is going to come out this year? Highly doubtful. They are thankfully stepping away from the 1,2,3, go... school of punk and care about the songs.  They accomplished what they set out to do, iThis Baltimore based band reaches back to a time when punk has something to say. The Minor Threat / Fugazi influence is more than apparent. Considering Fugazi is one of my favorite bands I am fine with this. There is also a kind of rock n roll recklessness that drives things   This drops March 3rd on Pop Wig.