What can I say about Guerrilla Teens that I haven't already said before? Simply put, this is one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands out there — featuring members of some of the punk world's most illustrious acts of the past three decades. Far from a mere continuation of The Humpers or Lovesores, Guerrilla Teens have their own thing going on — and it's exciting! Featuring the talents of Scott "Deluxe" Drake on vocals, Jeff Fieldhouse on guitar, Saul Koll on guitar, Tim Connolly on drums, Anna Andersen on bass, and Dave Sobel on keyboards, Guerrilla Teens are not looking back at past glories. They're too busy crafting the next generation of classic punk rock 'n' roll songs to rest on any laurels. Their last album Under the Dagger was one of 2023's overlooked gems, but the follow-up Monkey's Paw beats it by miles. The album is out now in digital form, and a vinyl release from the ever-dependable Sioux Records is coming soon.
You know what to expect from Monkey's Paw: ten tracks of electrifying Drake/Fieldhouse–penned rock 'n' roll haymakers featuring a firestorm of guitars, an unstoppable rhythmic backbone, and typically furious vocals from the ageless force of nature that is Scott Drake. This, in fact, might be the best album Drake has put his name on since the '90s. These are Guerrilla Teens' best songs to date, and the production and playing are perfect for this kind of music. Last year's excellent single "I Cyclops" kicks off the album emphatically. If you like straight-up '70s punk, "Mary's Got the Bomb" and "Johnny on the Mainline" will get your heart racing. If you're more in the mood for some restrained menace, "Sleepwalker" and "Tonight" (which sounds like the best Dead Boys song in decades) ought to hit the spot. "My Hometown" is pure rock 'n' roll and an absolute corker. Elsewhere, "Pride of the Savanna" and the smashing title track kick up the sort of wall-shaking unholy racket that all "garage" bands should aspire to. This is going to be one of the top albums of the year, and you will certainly want to follow Guerrilla Teens and Sioux Records on the socials for updates on when the vinyl is available. If anyone has any doubts about what real rock 'n' roll is, Monkey's Paw will make it all perfectly clear.
No comments:
Post a Comment