Bad Acid is an Austin punk band that has a raw energy which I always love to see from bands in such a polished digital age. It’s always exciting to hear a piece of music and visualize a group of manic musicians free-styling in a garage. That’s exactly the case on “Party,” the opening song on End Times. Ferocious electric guitar power chords buzz blisteringly over smashing drum cymbals and aggressive vocals. It’s the kind of song that would melt your face off at a live gig because it certainly blew me off my sofa. What a powerful start to an album. I always give kudos to a band that nails an intro.
“Mesmer” has a slightly funkier, upbeat vibe than the intro, which was a pleasant surprise. It’s a side that I didn’t expect from this band, after hearing the chaotic first track. The vocalist, Lafayette Moore, almost delivers the timbre and essence of Julian Casablancas (The Strokes), but only for fleeting moments. The choruses, in comparison to the clean verses, are wild and face-melting, once again. I’ve talked in reviews before about the power of the loud-quiet dynamic in a song. It just makes those high-volume moments all-the-more impactful. “Dope Sick Blues” is driven by a slow, brooding guitar riff, along with low and sinister vocals from Moore. While it’s a slower tempo from the previous tracks, Bad Acid delivers all of the same energy and grunge-fueled darkness. “Celebrate” is much the same, though it adopts a loud-quiet dynamic, much like “Mesmer,” and really opens up space for Dave Pratt (bassist) to shine in those quiet sections. “Ashes” is one of my favorite songs. Short and sweet, like all solid punk anthems. The guitar-work is sublime. Fantastic riffs and power-chord progressions. Really loved the screeching lead guitar too. There’s such a messy vibe to this track, but it’s intentionally messy, and I absolutely love it. The demented vocals gel perfectly with the overall vibe of the track. Shout out to Michael Pinson (drums) for his raw energy on this song. I admire the synchronicity of every instrument during those staccato sections. It’s also worth mentioning the outro, “Wizard Smoking in the Tree Tops,” which closes the album with such a vibrant and crystal-clear guitar riff. A fantastic album from a fantastic band.
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