Bangers
Crazy Fucking Dreams
Beach Community (2013)
Bangers are a punk band from Cornwall, but they don’t play to expectations in their second full-length Crazy Fucking Dreams. Instead, the record starts with the mid-to-slow tempo “A Curious Mix,” with speak-sing vocals and a trumpet. Singer Roo Pescod’s voice remains confrontational and direct, and that’s the most “punk rock” thing about “A Curious Mix.” From there, of course, the record goes back into familiar territory, picking up the pace with the vitriol-discharger “Blind Hindsight.”The overall sound remains in that mid-tempo range, building energy to where a chorus would lie, though that isn’t really Bangers’ lyrical approach. It’s melodic in spurts, with angular chords to build tension and Pescod’s spit-sing vocals leading the charge. There are some group singalongs that build on the positivity but, as a whole, Bangers are a group that sings about disappointment, frustration, and anger. They’re venting about a bad day rather than looking forward to tomorrow and the musical cues follow this same approach. They use detailed lyrics that build a setting and tone, telling little stories to exemplify the points while giving a window into their daily lives. There’s a lot of “I” to the songs, and it’s entirely believable as first-person tale, … Read more
Coleman Hell
Stark Raving
Independent (2013)
Coleman Hell is a three-piece Canadian band from Northern Ontario. It consists of vocalist Coleman Hell along with Rob “La+ch” … Read more
Gogol Bordello
Pura Vida Conspiracy
ATO (2013)
Gogol Bordello, on their earlier releases, were one of those rare bands that everybody agreed was a must-see live band … Read more
