Dealbreaker’s latest release, New Sides, is a power-packed blast of fuzz-pop and garage punk that feels like being lovingly shoved into a mosh pit by your best friends. It’s loud, it’s snotty, and it has enough energy to power a small midwestern town for a week. Dealbreaker, hailing from Welland, Ontario, proves that you don’t need a fancy studio or a brooding persona to make a great record; you just need some love for some loud, noisy rock music and a knack for writing some catchy, well-written songs.
The record kicks off with a bang, and while every track is a short, sharp shock to the system, a few specific moments truly shine. “Good Heart Dumb Brain” is a relatable anthem for anyone who has ever made a series of spectacularly poor life choices while meaning well. It sets the tone for the album with the frantic energy of a runaway train, featuring the lines: “I’ve got a good heart, I’ve got a dumb brain, I’m jumping back onto the tracks of a moving train.” It’s the kind of song that makes you want to high-five a stranger and then immediately apologize for it.
Things get even more delightfully chaotic with “Natural Disaster,” a sub-two-minute whirlwind that manages to pack more punch than most three-hour epics. It’s a highlight of grit and melody, characterized by the frantic energy of someone trying to outrun their own shadow. For those who prefer their punk with a side of existential crisis, “Plan D” serves as the perfect mid-album adrenaline shot. It captures the feeling of running out of options and just deciding to lean into the mayhem, anchored by the punchy refrain: “I’m on Plan D, I’m on Plan D, it’s the only one that’s left for me.” Finally, “Annoy Me” captures that specific brand of indie-punk cheekiness that Dealbreaker excels at. It’s a catchy, jarring tribute to the people in our lives who drive us up the wall, punctuated by the defiant declaration: “You don’t amuse me, you just annoy me, you don’t confuse me, you just destroy me.” Overall, ‘New Sides’ is a glorious reminder that rock and roll is at its best when it’s fast, fun, and just a little bit messy. This album kicks ass, and will have you singing along in your car as I have for sure… give it a spin.
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/1800dealbreaker/
https://1800dealbreaker.bandcamp.com/album/new-sides
https://tollfreerecords.com/band/dealbreaker/