Dave Smalley & The Bandoleros – Ignited 7” (Little Rocket Records)

Somehow I always had the feeling that the record will sound marvelous after taking a sneak peek at the cover artwork. That’s how I initially responded when I glanced at Ignited, a brand new 7” record by Dave Smalley & The Bandoleros. Magnificent artwork of skeleton steering the flaming chariots definitely looks great, and the artist behind this piece of art absolutely nailed it. This very detailed artwork has left a strong impression on me, so I immediately knew this material will literally sound excellent. Dave Smalley & The Bandoleros are pretty much active since their formation. Their critically acclaimed debut album Join The Outsiders have been issued two years ago, and the band performs sparingly throughout the states since then. Ignited is a proper continuation of its predecessor that includes five superb compositions, which will certainly cheer up all the fans of melodic hardcore punk music. The material has been mixed by Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore at The Blasting Room, so these songs sound utterly brilliant. Ignited consolidates the fundamentals of melodic punk rock music with condescending elements of DC hardcore punk sound, but the group also combines catchiness of rock’n’roll music. These sonic experimentations have resulted in euphonious almanac, saturated with very precise orchestrations. Various guitar dualities are interpreting complex harmonics saturated with loads of pure dynamics. These guitar maneuvers have been accompanied by notable basslines, which are enhancing the overall listening experience with some remarkable low-end segments. Impressive drumming performance carries various notable moments that enhance the musicianship of the remaining musicians. Harmonies have been thoughtfully arranged to fit the instrumentations of the rhythm section, so you’ll be pleasingly startled how Dave Smalley & The Bandoleros have arranged this magnificent record. Dave Smalley has supplemented some of his signature moves that are driving this powerful band, so this record nails with nothing but a pure quality of the presented songs. Ignited 7” has been published by Little Rocket Records, and the record comes in some cool color variants. Don’t miss your chance to pick this one up.