Strychnine – Born in a Bar / 2004 TKO Records / 13 Tracks / http://www.strychnine.com / http://www.tkorecords.com / Reviewed 09 February 2005
I was lucky enough to first be introduced to Strychnine when their live-album came out in 2003. Now, a year or so after that something even more impressive has came out, and this is their second full-length album, Born in a Bar. Break-neck guitars mix perfectly with Jimi’s sing-songy metal-esque (think “Trogdor”) screaming, best shown in the discs second track, “Follow Yer Leader”. The D.R.I.-like opening to “P.C.A.T.I.P.O.M.” leads into (if you can believe it) a more intense, a more pit-worthy guitar/drum assault that mixes the best of Darkness-metal and thrash-punk. Slowing down the tempo and staying into a rockabilly style for “Eight & 3 Quarters”, Strychnine continues to fuse each of its track with a proper appreciation of the earliest days of the eighties, when bands like Motley Crue and Venom were stealing the souls out of everyone that went to their shows. “Lil’ Duvel” is one of those tracks that are an immediate punk rock classic, taking the starred crown along with other current acts like Roger Miret.
When I close my eyes, I can honestly see Strychnine playing the music on this disc. The recording is a little eon the thin side, but I feel as if it was better that they erred on this side rather than overproducing the album and removing some of the charm that the band exudes. “The Life You Lead” has the shrill voice of Jimi struggling to make anything meaningful harmony-wise, while “Hate Finger” wins back all the stylistic losses of the prior track and more with the intense bass line of Joe. However, in one of the most inspired covers of the year, Strychnine pulls out a moldy oldy – The Sonics’ “Strychnine” and make it into a full track, replete with sizzling solo and Matt Freeman-esque bass lines.
The disc spins through its 13 tracks before one can bat an eye, but what is most surprising for me is the density that Strychnine has placed into each track. “Goin’ Nowhere” has all the normal instruments but finds space for shrill guitar slides, a cowbell, and more in the space of two-plus minutes. Continuing the heavy cowbell, Strychnine pulls out the multiple-part harmony, pseudo-cookie monster vocals and a catchy harmony to put this track over the top. Strychnine has impressed me in a live and studio session; I really don’t know what other fields they still have to dominate, but I’m sure that whatever endeavors they attempt will be marked with a no-bullshit scowl and a hell of a lot of guitar solos.
Top Tracks: Icons, Lil’ Duvel
Rating: 7.6/10