The Cutthroat Brothers

At first glance, this one could be a metal album but The CUTTHROAT BROTHERS and MIKE WATT (MINUTEMEN…) are more into rock’n’roll and garage, and they like it heavy, bluesy with dirty guitars. “Been Away” is quite catchy, “Devil In Berlin” almost has a psychobilly vibe and “Love, Drugs, Etc.” and “Kiss The Moon” are good old timeless rock’n’roll singles. You’ll also get a little boogie with “Cherry” and it gets darker at times (“Cold Dead Night”, “Wild Western”) or even psyche (“Out of Our Cage”) but still bluesy with slide guitar. The wild and cryptic spirit of The CRAMPS also haunts this album, especially in “Like A Zombie”! The great thing about this record is that it sounds as if the guys were playing in your room if you listen to it loud enough.
For some reason, this record also reminds me of some Seattle bands like MUDHONEY and especially Matt Cameron’s garage rock project HATER. Considering this, it’s not surprising to see the name of Jack Endino as a producer on this record. The SCREAMING TREES also come to mind when it comes to grungy rock, a song like “Magic Tricks” could easily have been on one of their albums. If you’re looking for a great rock record to bury 2021, then this is the one! /Laurent C.

Buy from Hound Gawd! Records

https://www.cutthroatbrothers.com/
Facebook page

This is the Halloween release for German record label Hound Gawd! Records, and considering the amount of blood in the artwork, it seems like the timing for this release is just perfect. Moreover, you’ll find a little satanic book with the lyrics enclosed along with the download card. The duo plays heavy garage punk (drummer Donny Paycheck used to play in ZEKE), but their music sometimes brings American punk’n’roll such as SOCIAL DISTORTION to mind in songs like “Out Of Control” or “Killing Time.” You’ll also get a bit of psychobilly with GUN CLUB influenced guitars in songs like “Wrong” and “Medicine” The biography says that the duo are real-life barbers which could sound a little scary when looking at their bloodstained shirts! The tribal drum beats and sexy bluesy guitars in “Taste For Evil” or “Shake Move Howl Kill” bring JON SPENCER or The CRAMPS to mind, but songs like “Black Candle” or “Get Haunted” have a big 90s grungy vibe so it’s no surprise to see that Jack Endino produced the album. The records ends with “The King Is Dead” a minimal blues that shows another side of the duo. Good modern rock’n’roll with solid roots, maybe that’s just what we need in 2019! /Laurent C.

Buy from Hound Gawd! Records

http://www.cutthroatbrothers.com
Facebook page