Alright, if you’re like me, your current personality is roughly 60% Usinger’s brats, 30% Nathan’s hot dogs, and 10% whatever ice-cold Hamm’s is left in the cooler. Right now, I’m staring at my backyard grill with the same longing a Victorian widow stares at the sea, just waiting for the Brewers game on the radio and enough sunshine to justify a second layer of sunscreen.
Since Milwaukee weather is a cruel mistress, we’re settling for the next best thing: the sonic equivalent of a charcoal flare-up. American Sharks are dropping ‘Not Dead Yet’ on April 17th via Permanent Teeth Records. Honestly, I know it’s been a while that American Sharks released a new album, but it seems like they usually have a new album every 5-6 years so we should be used to it?! ‘Not Dead Yet’ not only lets all of us know American Sharks are still alive, but also let’s us know they are still melting all of our faces off with their own style of that punk-metal hybrid they’ve mastered over the years. ‘Not Dead Yet’ makes you want to flip a burger with a leather glove and crush that empty can of beer on your forehead. They’ve brought in some heavy-hitting guest muscle to beef up the sizzling guitar sound from an all-star cast that make the riffs feel twice as thick:
Mike Derks (GWAR): Lead Guitar on “Bang Yer Head”
Zach Blair (Rise Against): Lead Guitar on “The Machine”
Kyle Shutt (The Sword): Lead Guitar on “Sunny Sunday”
David Sullivan (Red Fang): Lead Guitar on “Flowers For The Dead”
Leo Lydon (Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol): Lead Guitar and Vocals on “They Want Peace”
Aaron Echegaray: Lead Guitar on “Going Insane”
The track “Full Tank, No Brakes” is a legitimate ear-bleeder, and “Charred to a Crisp” sounds exactly like what I plan on doing to my dinner once the temperature hits 60 degrees. Another standout track that will get your motor runnin’ and head bangin’ along to is “Going Insane”… it’s fuzzy, it’s distorted, and it pairs perfectly with a frosty can and the sweet, sweet smell of lighter fluid.
But the real “mark your calendars or be a loser” event is May 6th at Falcon Bowl. Nothing says “rock and roll” like a historic bowling alley in the ole’ Riverwest neighborhood, where the floorboards sweat the finest beer and whiskey. The lineup is a triple-threat of pure rockin’s riffs a plenty gold: Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol (who kicked ass the last time I saw them at Cactus Club) and Pink Fuzz. Between the Sharks’ speed and the fuzzed-out grooves of these other two bands, this show is going to be a total blowout that you’ll probably be able to hear down at Veggas. If you aren’t there shaking your head to these new riffs, I can only assume you’ve been kidnapped or you’ve developed a sudden, tragic allergy to a good time.
Grab the LP or the download on the 17th, ice down the Hamm’s, and let’s get ready to lose some hearing.
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/americansharks
https://americansharks.bandcamp.com/album/not-dead-yet