Album Reviews
Debt Neglector’s latest full-length, 'Kinda Rips,' manages to be snarling and melodic at the same time. That might sound like something that shouldn't work, but the Florida punk veterans - Zach Anderson (drums), Matt Burns (guitar/vocals), Alex Goldfarb (vocals/ bass) and Chris Pfister (guitar/vocals/keys) - make it sound easy and deliver yet another searing, high-octane record.
These guys have had a knack for marrying sociopolitical commentary with full-throttle punk rock ever since releasing 2017's 'Atomicland' and that is no different on the new album. Take 'Adios Amigos! Or How to Self-Sabotage Without Even Trying,' an anthem of disillusionment that tackles societal division, or 'Evening News,' which finds the band taking on the media. What is new though is that this time around, they also dive into more personal topics like the pressures of fatherhood, insecurity, and dealing with mortality.
Sonically, the album is as tight, fast, and punchy as aything they have done up until this point. Think Bad Religion, Descendents and Dillinger Four rolled up into one big firecracker of an album. It's nothing but breakneck drumming, choruses made for shouting your little hearts out and quirky riffs. Slightly less quirky than before though. The band decided that they didn't need to constantly keep the listener on their toes and that it was okay to let the catchy parts simply be catchy.
Debt Neglector has long worn their convictions on their sleeves, and with 'Kinda Rips,' they double down. Whether they are rallying against all the shitty things going on in the world or confronting inner demons, they remind us that just because apathy might be the easy way to go, it's not the right way. And in the process they also delivered their best album yet. They just completely missed the mark with the album title. This one doesn't 'kinda' rip, it totally rips!
Kinda Rips tracklist:
- Adios Amigos! Or How to Self-Sabotage Without Even Trying
- Clear Sight
- Rotten Inside
- Apocalypse Soon
- Tight Lips
- Tough Luck, Kid!
- Evening News
- Hearing Voices
- Any last words?
- Right To Remain Violent
- Right the New Wave
- Makeshift Tourniquet
- Time To Bail
Lacking the talent to actually play in a band, Tom decided he would write about bands instead. Turns out his writing skills are mediocre at best as well.
