Bastards of Fate – Vampires Are Real And Palpable – This Will Be Our Summer Records
Here is a solid and packed LP full of pure, gritty experimental rock fused with so much life that calling it “experimental rock” really doesn’t define it. Maybe I could get away with calling it indie-experimental… At any rate, the lyrics are put together well and create the glue that the foundation of this record is built on. Add the strange, fun and sometimes noisy sound clips that bridge gaps between tracks and you have yourself one giant cohesive wall of sound. Overall, this is a unique record, with an overhanging darkness that’s surprisingly upbeat, giving me this image of a vampire lounging with a lemon lollypop in his mouth. The imagination and creativity here is equal to that wild sonic exploration of perhaps Yasushi Ishii but the Bastards Of Fate have a sound that is unmistakably original.Seriously, this is quite the LP. (4.8 out of 5)
Eureka California – Crunch – Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records
The jangle pop punk indie gods return with their first LP since 2012’s “Big Cats Can Swim.” And after having the privilege of reviewing that album when it came out, getting my paws on this LP after nearly two years of silence was awesome. Here, the band ventures into a peppier sound that throws me headlong into a state of bliss. Lyrically, like their last album, this is genius but a bit more on the playful side of things as far as writing goes. There’s not a single dull moment on this LP. I found myself loving each track, easily falling into the crazy and vibrant vibes. Rock on! (5 out of 5).
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