Drunkdriver

I like to consider myself pretty versed in rock - I listen to a lot of stuff and a good amount of variety. But, every so often, I’ll get something that I just can’t categorize or explain well. That’s not a bad thing at all. In fact, it’s a pretty good accomplishment, as long as the wax is listenable.

Drunkdriver hail from New York City. After my first listen to the A-side “Firesale,” my only descriptive thought was, "Sounds like The Butthole Surfers but with a strong sludge influence." As much as that doesn’t cover it, it still might be the closest I’m going to get. The song is driven by powersaw chords from Kristy Greene and an under-mixed Michael Berdan screaming into the mic so hard he sounds like he’s dying. Even though the instruments are all playing separate parts, the song builds incrementally until its abrupt end amongst the chaos at 2:22. From what I’ve gathered, Drunkdriver’s live show is infamous for Berdan’s disregard for his body during their sets. The music is brutal and violent.

On Side B, “It Never Happened,” the band ditches the big riffs for a feedback-heavy wall of noise with spoken vocals, again mixed lower than the music, and giving a powerful spotlight to the instruments. The song comes across as somewhere between glory days Sonic Youth noise, early Ween lo-fi, and the heaviest shit you’ve ever heard. That probably doesn’t make any sense. Regardless, if you like your rock challenging and abrasive, this is for you.

7.3 / 10 — Loren