Western Addiction
Tremulous
Fat Wreck Chords (2017)
Has it really been 12 years since Cognicide? Well, Western Addiction are back with another single word, make-you-think album title in Tremulous. They may have skipped releasing records for the entire Obama presidency (plus some), but the band didn’t mellow with age.Tremulous is 11 songs of melodic hardcore. Led by Chad Williams’ power drumming, Williams punctuates the sound while the riffs chug and the vocals swoon, sway and, sometimes, punch. The riffs dominate at times, like in the right-at-you “Red Emeralds,” and other times the melody shines bring, such as with “Righteous Lightning,” which alternates between big chords and lead guitar passages from Ken Yamazaki. That’s how it works throughout the record, spewing anger and frustration, but sometimes taking a deep breath and settling the (tremulous) nerves before the next anxious wave.After a decade away from the studio, it’s no surprise to have member changes. For the most part, though, Western Addiction hasn’t changed drastically. Three founding members are still active and original bassist Tyson “Chicken” Annicharico joined the group for their studio session.While most of the record is forceful and angry, album closer “Your Life Is Precious” is a step outside the norm. Written in tribute to the late … Read more
The Slackers
Redlight (20th Anniversary)
Pirates Press (2017)
Has it really been twenty years since this album made its way out into the world? Time does fly by … Read more
Planning For Burial
Below The House
Flenser (2017)
Would you rather a musician be great live commanding all manner of powers that conjure spirits and whisk the entire … Read more
L.A. Takedown
II (2017)
Ribbon Music (2017)
You don’t need to have been to Los Angeles to best experience L.A. Takedown’s latest album, II. It’s an album … Read more
