Richmond, Virginia’s Throttlerod have always had a knack for
surprising, and their fourth album, Turncoat, is no exception.
After making the transition from four-piece to trio, the
outfit offered up their third full-length, Pig Charmer, in 2009, and took a
left turn from their earlier, riffier vibes to blistering and aggressive noise
rock. Like all their prior work, it was produced by Andrew Schneider, and had a
sharpness in its chug that, while it still grooved, was clearly looking to
accomplish something apart from the band’s earlier three LPs: 2000’s Eastbound
and Down (on Underdogma), 2003’s Hell and High Water, and 2006’s Nail, as well
their quiet, semi-unplugged 2004 EP, Starve the Dead.
While the biggest change that Pig Charmer brought about was
in lineup – guitarist/vocalist Matt Whitehead and drummer Kevin White bringing
in Schneider as bassist/vocalist – Turncoat goes even further. Instead of going
back to record as they always had, the band hooked up with J. Robbins (Clutch,
Coliseum, Against Me!) to lay down Turncoat’s 12 tracks, and the result of the
new collaboration is that the album not only follows-up on the aggro promise of
Pig Charmer, but builds it outward, in a way that’s more melodically resonant
and as much about emotional expression as sonic impact.
Dedicated to the memory of Puny Human vocalist Jim Starace,
who passed away in 2012 and who had guested on Nail, Turncoat is an important
step forward for the band, but much more, it’s a killer rock album, and
whatever Throttlerod go through from one record to the next, and whoever
happens to be sitting at the helm, that’s the underlying thread. It just wouldn’t
be Throttlerod if it didn’t kick ass… and offer a surprise or two along the
way.
Buy Album: www.smallstone.com
Download Album: https://smallstone.bandcamp.com/album/turncoat
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