As much as we, like so many, are always looking for something uniquely new and ground-breaking to fascinate and ignite the passions, there are undeniably times a masterful fusion of existing designs and textures in one irresistible slab of full on rock ‘n’ roll is just as thrilling. Dirty Legs from US rockers American Fangs is such a riotous treat, an embrace of established and recognisable essences honed with new hooks and inescapable virulence then immersed in high octane energy and dirty intent. The result, one of the most scintillating and ferociously outstanding stomps unleashed this year from a band set to replicate home success and surely stir up hungry appetites around the world.
Hailing from Houston and formed in 2008, the American Fangs sound is described as a blend of post hardcore and alternative rock/metal, flavours certainly erupting within the band’s songs but equally tracks are punk, hard rock, and as uncompromisingly contagious as any form of pop rock. Band and sound swiftly drew attention as a live presence in the US and the UK, American Fangs touring with the likes of Deftones, Papa Roach, Four Year Strong, Sevendust, Hollywood Undead, and Chevelle over the years and making highly praised appearances at festivals such as SXSW, Rock on the Range, Carolina Rebellion, Rocklahoma, Festapalooza Shreveport, and Ship Rocked. Backed by their acclaimed self-titled debut album and their first EP, the quintet has become a greedily followed prospect, if not quite to the same level in Europe as in the US, though Dirty Legs will surely change that with, to follow up a potent performance at this year’s Download, its worldwide uncaging.
Opener Slavery Wedding swiftly sets the tones for the album, its immediate swipes of hefty rhythms and caustic riffs an attention grabbing eruption driven by the dirty scowl of Gabriel Cavazos’ vocals. There is no hiding place as the beats of drummer Micah Miller seem to intensify their assault with every punch and the guitars of Kenyon Puntenney and Chris Goodwin turn more toxic with every riff, chord, and eventually a blaze of seriously seductive grooves. Like a mix of Every Time I Die and Cancer Bats in league with UK band Bite The Shark, the track is primal rock ‘n’ roll turned into an anthemic riot refusing to take no for an answer.
The outstanding start is instantly matched and surpassed by Death of Me, a scuzzy epidemic of insatiable hooks and rhythms within a bruising sonic infection. Cavazos again leads the incendiary confrontation with an ear gripping delivery which is soaked in attitude and enterprise and backed by the equally potent tones of bassist Kyle Shimek. The latter’s string sculpting is just as imaginative and enticing too, offering a grouchy lure throughout but especially exploiting the passages of ‘relaxation’ to unveil the most predatory funk lines you will ever come across. As its predecessor, the song is high on adrenaline and ferocity, taking no prisoners lyrically and in its voracious presence.
Counting Wolves has an even rawer texture and air to its quickly pleasing roar, the song merging the passion and hookery of a Billy Talent with the agitated emotions and fury of a NOFX, then twisting it into American Fang’s own demandingly catchy revelry. Once more band and album is drawing full submission from body and thoughts, though fair to say the excellent song still pales against the might of Say What!, carnivorous rock pop at its best. Everything about the track is ravenously addictive and anthemic, body and soul whilst being tenderised by punishing rhythms inescapably entangled in wiry riffs, clanging hooks, and a blazing vocal roar.
Shimek’s bass begins unveiling new bestial, primeval tones in Leukoplakia next, its dark lure aligning with stalking grooves and barbarous beats as vocals crawl menacingly over the senses. Despite all that intimidation, there is again pure virulent alchemy at work which only incites the listener to dance whilst snarling at the world with the song. If rebellion needs a soundtrack this is it. The breath-taking incitement eventually seeps into the following Black Eyed, though the body is not given any time off here either, the song a kinetic jungle of pungent rhythms courted by spicy and inventive twists within an alternative rock/punk stomp.
Few albums hit an early peak and keep it going across their length without even slight dips but Dirty Legs does, in fact it just gets stronger and more tenacious as it goes as if it is feeding off the reactions and energy of the listener. Bukkake Summer proves the point, a slice of rock ‘n’ roll which takes the rowdy exploits of the previous track and sculpts them into its own punk ‘n’ roll harvest of nagging riffs, growling contagion, and mischievously rousing vocals, all punctuated by sinew loaded rhythms. Imagine a mix of The Ramones, Turbonegro, and The Senton Bombs and you have a hint to another delicious brawl on the album.
Both Brazlian Axe and We Stand Apart keep the thrills and creative spills coming, the first a raunchy blaze of rock ‘n’ roll with tangy hues to guitars and vocals creating around a resonating rhythmic spine whilst its successor is another proposal lock ‘n’ loaded with barbed hooks and intoxicating guitar resourcefulness. With vocals as much a cheerleader to the imagination and virulence of the song as they are a feverish protagonist to the combative strength of the lyrics, the encounter steals top dog honours on Dirty Legs, though only by a shade such the might of all.
Both tracks inflame ears and emotions whilst keeping the album burning creatively and aggressively, each only inspiring thoughts and appetite to crave more before being fed by closing track You’ve Got Future Written All Over Your Future. It is a heavyweight turbo-charged rampage which pretty much sums up the might and inventive craft of the album. As throughout the whole release, there is plenty to recognise and offer possible comparisons to, yet American Fangs simply use all flavours and seeds for their own devilish intent to riveting and incendiary effect.
Quite simply Dirty Legs is rock ‘n’ roll baby and it does not get much better than this!
Dirty Legs is available from July 4th via Best Before Records @ https://www.bestbeforerecords.com/Shop/DownloadDetails?rid=BBR_RE_24 and http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dirty-Legs-Explicit-American-Fangs/dp/B00XUVZ7YA
https://www.facebook.com/americanfangs http://www.americanfangs.net
RingMaster 04/07/2015
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
Bullet With Your Name steps up next bullying ears with vocals and ravenous sounds though yet again there is an infectious spine and adventure to the track which has you welcoming its vicious assault. As in its predecessor and songs to come, there is as much a punk/hardcore richness to the tempest as a thrash/metal breeding, though it is the latter spawning another magnetic persuasion of emerging imaginative twists and endeavour. The individual skills and resourcefulness of the band is also in open evidence as well as an eagerness to push ideas and textures with elements of discord and unpredictability.
It is a rousing and exhilarating start backed as forcibly and enjoyably by the EP’s title track next, followed after by the thoroughly pleasing Silhouette. The release swiftly reveals a broader canvas to its adventure, guitars casting a spicy stoner-esque toning to the steadily brewing and eventually erupting grooves. With the dramatic and skilled swipes of drummer Luke McCormick guiding and puncturing its body, the song sculpts a web of antagonistic rhythms and creative contagion, every hook, twist, and vocal incitement unpredictable and inventively virulent. Again it is a track as much punk and metal as it is intensive rock ‘n’ roll, and again quite irresistible before it makes way for its successor. The third song stalks the senses with riffs and beats before slipping into not so much mellower essences but more expansive scenery of warm melodic rock and emotional resourcefulness.
Emerging from the ashes of Dead On Arrival, Foreign Legion began in 1984 infusing an oi seeding with varied essences of punk rock. The years have come and gone, line-up changed but the band has never slowed down or taken the heat out of their creative and lyrical rage as shown by the new release. Recent years has seen Foreign Legion share stages with the likes of Cockney Rejects, Guitar Gangsters, Control, The Warriors, GBH, The Ruts, and Stiff Little Fingers and play festivals such as Back On The Streets, Punk & Disorderly and Rebellion, whilst over time they have played in 15 different countries and remained the only Welsh band to ever play at the legendary CBGB’s in New York. With four albums under their belt, including the Mick Jones produced What Goes Around Comes Around, as well as a split full-length with Major Accident and numerous other splits and compilation appearances, the band instantly show they are as stirringly confrontational as ever with their first contribution to this new encounter.
some essences of British punk found within their sound. Their potent history has seen the band play with bands such as Queers, Downtown Struts, Noi!se, Bishops Green, The Templars, Fatskins, Concrete, and Those Unknown whilst their discography includes an album and a 7”. With a new EP scheduled for later this year, the band launch their part with Crossing the Line first of all and quickly gets down to being musically and vocally grouchy and thrilling ears straight away.
The following Oh Katy is a gentler caress of energy though no less infectious with its evocative grooving and glowing harmonies. The psych pop resonance of the song sizzles on the ears, its spatial tempting grounded by the just as riveting and effective melancholic bass lures amidst thick swipes upon drums. Whereas the first song has a tenacious and broad sense of life and energy, its successor offers a more intimately emotional and personal presence with a just as transfixing and intoxicating tapestry of sound. It also has a slight whisper of Arctic Monkeys to it, though again the main scent of the track is soaked in psychedelic rock from across the decades.
The song opens on a scrub of guitar and the grizzly tone of the vocals, both aspects inescapably lined with an Arctic Monkeys twang which only adds to their appeal and coaxing. Swiftly rhythms are adding their invitation too, darker shadows of bass wantonly flirting with those feisty beats with an energy and swagger which only sparks the same in the varied vocals and the web of hooks and sonic tempting cast from the guitars. It is an irresistible mix increasing in seduction as effects clad voices at times and a psych rock breath washes over song and senses. Fair to say the contagion at large is bewitching, enticing feet and emotions to dance with the imagination and virulent enterprise of the song.