Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders strike once again with another comprehensive collection of songs that will resonate with all the true classic punk rock fans. Released by the prolific German record label Hound Gawd Records, “Keepin’ Chaos At Bay” carries fourteen excellent compositions that will satisfy even the pickiest listeners and beyond. Heavily drenched in a good old rock ‘n’ roll sound and adorned by pure punk rock energy, this set of songs brings back good old times when punk rock was fresh, innovative, and exciting. There are hints of blues, soul, garage rock, and hard rock included along the way, but these additional elements serve more as enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details that uplift these songs on an entirely new level while Pat Todd and the remainder of the band remain loyal to the primary sonic direction. These experimentations with different but complementary styles allow them to continuously levitate through different moods, ambiances, and eras that define the mentioned music genres.
Pat Todd’s vocals serve as a centerpiece of this sonic equation. His confident, sincere, powerful voice commands attention and guides the listening apparatus from scratch to finish. The combination of distorted vocal harmonies and melody adds complexity and depth to this collection of heartfelt songs. In the meantime, the interplay between rhythm and lead guitars acts as a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. You’ll head how one side resonates with catchy, memorable, engaging chord progressions and riffs while the other shines with magnificent leads, themes, melodies, and harmonies. Both guitar players incorporate the late sixties garage rock and seventies punk rock into their instrumentations, with a more than vividly hearable touch of classic rock ‘n’ roll added to it. You’ll even hear some Americana along the way. Their guitar works resemble something Detroit, New York, and Seattle bands would write and record during the mentioned eras. Just think of bands like MC5, The Stooges, New York Dolls, or The Wipers, and you’ll get the idea. These instrumentations perfectly suit Pat Todd’s vocal maneuvers.
Of course, this ear-appealing material wouldn’t sound this good without the powerful rhythm section. You’ll notice how the equally intricate, audible, warm-sounding basslines rumble beneath all those guitar layers, offering more than necessary heftiness, clearness, and deepness while binding all the instrumentations with drums. The excellent drumming performance keeps the remainder of the band in line while dictating groove and tempo with expertly assembled, flawlessly executed, well-accentuated beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics. Every band member plays a significant role in this sonic equation, making “Keepin’ Chaos At Bay” a pleasant listening experience. Tracks like “Why I Sing,” “Lie’n Money & A Bad Disguise,” “Galavantin’,” “Lies, Lies And More Lies,” “That Little Bit Of’ Nothin’,” “The Company You Keep,” “A World Up For Sale,” “Just Another Stupid Guy,” “Your Gonna Lose It All,” “Victim Of Dedication,” and “Tower Of Song” are standouts of this material, but you should keep your focus on an entire album, because “Keepin’ Chaos At Bay” is a garage/punk rock masterpiece. The album arrives in Coke bottle clear and black vinyl variants, compact discs, and streaming services. I highly advise you to purchase a vinyl version because it sounds divine. Head to Hound Gawd Records for more information about ordering.
Thoughts Words Action 