‘More Ego‘ by Amsterdam’s Third Ego proves that if your local therapist has been telling you to manage your ego, they are completely wrong. Released at White Russian Records, this second full-length record shows exactly how to turn an existential crisis into an absolute basement-party rager. Created in the underground of Amsterdam’s historic Vondelbunker, this supergroup features former members of legendary Dutch punk outfits like NRA, Brat Pack, NEED, Human Alert, and Sellfish. Instead of retiring to bake sourdough or just starting some dumb weird folk band thing… these seasoned veterans have channeled the roaring energy of ’70s proto-punk and the boisterous, gritty melodicism of ’90s alternative rock into a sound that feels like you just ran into an old buddy you used to hang with at all the punk shows back in the day and you continue your conversation as time had never passed.
Musically, the band trades in a brilliant lineage that lands somewhere between the raw, nervy urgency of classic Washington D.C. Revolution Summer acts like Government Issue or Three, and the blistering, anthemic, hook-heavy power of Jawbreaker. They manage to mix dark, introspective lyrics about the messy human psyche with the kind of bouncy, caffeine-fueled tempos that will make you want to sprint on a treadmill or aggressively clean your kitchen. It is an incredibly fun paradox: the vocalist sings about raw emotion and a loss of control, but the rhythm section is so fiercely locked in that you feel entirely safe bouncing around your living room. It is loud, it is unpretentious, and it proves that having an ego is totally fine as long as you have the thunderous guitar riffs to back it up.
While the entire 12-track album is a non-stop thrill ride, three specific anthems demand to be played at a volume that will deeply annoy your neighbors. First up is “Not Just a Memory“, a dark, driving kick-ass song that blends pure punk rock urgency with a chorus so melodic it will get stuck in your head for days. Then comes “Drained”, a relatable, high-energy track that captures that exact feeling of looking at your bank account on a Sunday morning, propelled by a bassline that hits you straight in the chest. Finally, “Choking” stands out as a brilliantly explosive, rhythmic track where masterful guitar hooks collide with raw, authentic emotion, leaving you completely breathless in the best way possible. Give ‘More Ego‘ by Third Ego a listen… it’s a fun record, and it kicks ass.
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/thirdego/
https://thirdego.bandcamp.com/album/more-ego