(DL38) SPLNTR - Trails - Then and Now
Deadlamb Records are still at it
folks, this is a blessing to all and you really should get out there and
support em' - buy a CD, do a review, share their precious word. These
guys were the original and only sponsors of the SAS Tour, a showcase I
ran with my good mate Andy NoizeAnoize, trying to get DIY a bit more
notice in the 21st Century. The label here offers up an 11 track CD from
a band based in Orange County, California and after several rotations on
the ever-rotating turntable I can hold my hands up and honestly say that
some moments...inspire. There is no need to over-indulge before the game
is afoot, I go in and take things step by step and let you pick up on my
feelings.
Bang - the title track is thrown out 'Trails' is a beauty and after a
roll over the skins, a guitar twinge and a smooth, reined in first verse
a hint of what is to come is given via a brief stimulating sub-chorus.
Textured and exhilarating the song grows in presence with all nooks and
crannies free of cloying dust and polished up for you to admire. The
merging of the angles comes, a succinct message is hammered home via the
aforementioned sections where the band rise high and apply their trade
with pertinent passion. The flare of the temperament is executed with
consideration, the eye of the storm draws one in and the final swirl of
spirit is not lost as our senses get blasted.
'Grind' has addictive qualities in many ways and is a smartly executed
and has more going for it that one first deems possible. The gruff
vocals are enthused by the reacting music that is a mere catalyst for
continuous high energy that all the while has a natural flow and
absorbing nature. From the shout out and bass grumble to the high
frequency electro bursts, the excitement levels remain lofted and we are
thrown about a melting pot of bubbling action with gusto. The band back
up the initial impact made via their first tremendous song with a
thoughtful and articulate second piece - lovely. 'Riot' moves up the
ladder of success, wallops home a pile-driving fist of defiant musical
aggression that makes one sit up and take note. From the stable and
focused to the more flamboyant and weaving there is a reliable solidity
racing through each and every vein of this excellent outburst and all
along the way, from the bass grumble and white-light guitar strains
through the opening gravelled hollers to the all-absorbing soundscape
set, this is a beauty - 3 down, the foundations have been set for Album
of the Year already!
'Step Back' is a fuckin' blinder, one I use, as well as the rest of the
album, to don the boxing gloves and knock seven bells out of the
punch-bag or anyone who gets too close (I do get carried away tha'
knows). The band are on fire, they are nailing each and every song and
doing so whilst exuding a prominent class that one cannot deny. This
song opens up with a salvo, pummels with pace before haymaking with a
quality that refuses to bob and weave but stands its ground and lets you
have it in no uncertain terms. 'Chinatown' is equal to the follow-on
task but comes with a more controlled culture and erudite essence
emanated from a band very much on the top of their game. The heavy-duty
application, sincere force and precise drive of all unified components
is right in-line with my noisy ways. This is another cracker, I think
the band are something quite special on the evidence given so far.
'Needle Park' scampers in, travels with lofted energy and impetus and
tells a tale of a murky world where the needy are in danger, the
predator’s prowl and the gunslingers are happy to fire off their
frustrations. The songs skids along, slides in a bloodbath of effective
presence whilst all the while being kept on its toes by the rattling
tympanic energy that never abates. A firm middle-ground song as is the
chaser 'Stranger Than Fiction. This slab of sound is one of the
smoothest efforts and sails along in easy fashion but still has much
weight within its inner core. The cooled-down tones are a subtle
alteration than what has gone before and although left salivating for
another high-powered burst I can see the raison d'être of this song and
also appreciate it capabilities. A steady effort and one that easily
keeps the interest - high!
The last 4 are upon us, 'Drive' is emotive chaos let from the leash and
allowed to spit venom and tear chunks out of your inattentive arse. A 1
minute 32 second eruption of spiteful kick-back that blows a chunk from
the set-pattern of the CD and nicely leaves one staggering. Fast, to the
point and with guts exposed. A quite scrumptious bass drive opens 'One
Two, One Two' and is soon joined by a tension-inducing vibration that
really sets the soul alight. The band are foaming at the mouth, at the
arse, at each and every pore - the perspired juices emanated are blood
soaked, inspiring and full of fuckin' gumption. The tightness and
stress-laden intensity is only relieved by a brilliant moment of
free-flown melody before the heat is turned back on and a knife is held
to the throat. A lovely explosion - now where's those knuckledusters?
'Automatic' is a zenith, a mere gold-tinted monolith of glorifying
grandness that excites and ignites whilst moving with consummate quality
through each and every discordant department. The band are on the top of
their game, the switch between blue-light encouragement to an easily
delivered chorus of snagging proportions is sublime, this is a latter
end beauty - do not overlook it and whilst you’re at it, admire a band
on their way to making for one amazing CD - ah amazing, a shitty word
used by the masses and diluted in the extreme, not so here, this
collection of songs are bang on. We close with 'Wonder Why', a hearty
rip up full of abrasive guitar work, throbbing bassism, slap-happy
sticks and vigorous gravel-splattered vocals that leave little room to
put in a critical boot. The band go out with a flourish, stop, start,
slam with intent and screw and swerve before crashing into that final
wall of silence in fine, blazing style. The job is a fuckin' good un'
folks, this has been one exciting journey, I am ecstatic.
And there, my perusing chum, is a CD done in stunning style and if the
truth be known, is up there with some of the best. SPLNTR have come from
nowhere and registered themselves big-time on the Fungal Richter scale -
the earthquake has left many an aftershock, be prepared to get knocked
off your feet.
www.fungalpunknature.co.uk
(DL38) SPLNTR - Trails - Then and Now
This Southern California band has
been around since 1992, although they were broken up for a while. I’ve
never heard of them, but this sounds pretty good. Well-produced punk
that doesn’t turn pop punk due to the bits of JELLO BIAFRA-like vocals.
This reminds me of the GENERATORS, FANG, DECRY, and SOCIAL UNREST. Old
school with some guitar licks without getting metal. (Ray Lujan)
Maximum Rock N'Roll
(DL38) SPLNTR - Trails - Then and Now
These guys
seems to have a few years on the neck and therefore it may be interesting. That
was interesting. Erick Armeson who sings has a voice that I think is similar to
Animal in the Anti-Nowhere League and it sounds like it sounds like them but
it's really not that SPLNTR sounds like ANL but they have a bit tougher sound
but there's a lot touch points. It's fast and songs you feel like singing in and
it's a punk rock that I like. So, these guys have no age problems of any kind
and I think SPLNTR is a group I'd like to rank high. For this kind of punk rock
where you do not have much space to breathe, I love. Those who do not check the
group may blame you for it themselves, but I will listen to them over and over
again.
De har gubbarna ser ut att ha
några år på nacken och därför kan det bli intressant. Det var intressant. Erick
Armeson som sjunger har en röst som jag tycker liknar Animal i Anti-Nowhere
League och det gör ju att det låter lite som dem men det är verkligen inte så
att SPLNTR låter som ANL utan de har ett lite hårdare sound men det finns en del
beröringspunkter. Det är snabba och låtar man känner för att sjunga med i och
det är en punkrock som jag gillar. Så de här gubbarna har inga ålderskrämpor av
något slag och jag tycker att SPLNTR är en grupp som jag skulle vilja ranka högt.
För den här typen av punkrock där man inte får mycket utrymme att andas älskar
jag. Ni som inte kollar in gruppen får skylla er själva men jag kommer i alla
fall att lyssna på dem om och om igen.
Skrutt Magazine 8/10
(DL38) SPLNTR - Trails - Then and Now
Orange County-Hardcore-Punk von der
D.I.- (eher „State Of Shock“ als „Horse Bites, Dog Cries“), M.I.A.-,
SHATTERED FAITH-Stange, der sich redlich um eine angemessene,
tendenziell allerdings überproduzierte Verbeugung vor den Originalen
bemüht, dabei aber eigene Akzente vermissen lässt.
Die mitunter arg theatralische Gesangsdarbietung zwischen Jello Biafra-Reminiszenz
und Danzig-Breitschultrigkeit kann sich zudem als äußerst strapaziös für
Menschen mit einem zartbesaiteten Nervengerüst erweisen, die ohnehin
regelmäßig zu Lavendel-Badesalz und Melissentee greifen.
Die vom Label zitierte Begeisterung des Flipside Magazine von vor zig
Jahren, welche die Band als Essenz aus BLACK FLAG und MINOR THREAT
beschreibt, kann ich meinerseits leider nicht teilen.
Dirk Klotzbach - Wertung:6/10 -
OxFanzine
Google translate...
Orange County hardcore punk from the
DI (more "State Of Shock" than "Horse Bites, Dog Cries"), MIA, SHATTERED
FAITH rod, who honestly strives for a reasonable, but overproduced bow
to the originals , but miss your own accents.
The sometimes very harsh theatrical vocal performance between Jello
Biafra reminiscence and Gdansk broad-shoulderedness can also prove
extremely exhausting for people with a delicately scathed nervous
skeleton, who regularly resort to lavender bath salts and lemon balm
anyway.
Unfortunately, I can not share the enthusiasm of Flipside Magazine of
the past few years, which the band describes as the essence of BLACK
FLAG and MINOR THREAT.
Dirk Klotzbach - Rating: 6/10 -
OxFanzine
