When it comes to channeling the feral energy of late-sixties garage rock and blending it with the raw edge of seventies New York punk, few bands do it with as much fervor as The Anomalys. Their latest release, Down The Hole, is a blistering reminder that rock ‘n’ roll is far from dead—it’s alive, kicking, and foaming at the mouth. This album is a visceral ride through a sonic landscape that’s as chaotic as it is captivating, proving that The Anomalys are masters of their craft, even as they push the boundaries of their sound. Down The Hole wastes no time in setting the tone. The opening track, a barrage of distorted guitar riffs, and relentless drumming, kicks off the album with a punch to the gut. The guitars are gritty, drenched in fuzz, and played with a wild abandon that immediately grabs your attention. The riffs are not just memorable; they’re infectious, crawling into your brain and setting up camp. There’s a certain anarchy to the way the chords are strung together, reminiscent of the unpolished beauty of late-sixties garage rock, yet infused with the aggression of seventies punk. The Anomalys have always had a knack for crafting familiar and fresh riffs, and on Down The Hole, they’ve taken this to a new level. The chord progressions are deceptively simple, yet they carry a weight that feels almost primal. Each strum, each note, is a call to arms, urging the listener to lose themselves in the music. The melodies, though raw and abrasive, are surprisingly catchy, sticking in your head long after the album has finished spinning. If the guitars are the backbone of Down The Hole, then the vocals are the beating heart.
Frontman Bone delivers his lines with a commanding shout that’s drenched in reverb, giving the impression that his voice is echoing off the walls of some dingy underground club. There’s a raw, almost feral quality to his delivery, as if he’s channeling the spirit of punk rock itself. The reverb adds a layer of grit, making it sound as though his voice is coming at you from every direction, surrounding you in a wall of sound. What makes Bone’s vocal performance truly stand out, however, is the way it complements the chaotic energy of the music. His voice cuts through the noise, yet never overpowers it, striking a perfect balance between being a guiding force and another instrument in the band’s arsenal. The lyrics, though often buried under layers of distortion, carry a sense of urgency, as if every word is a declaration of war against the mundane. The drumming on Down The Hole is nothing short of explosive. The beats are fast, furious, and relentless, driving the songs forward with an energy that feels almost manic. The drummer, Remy Pablo, doesn’t just play the drums; he attacks them, each hit resonating with a force that could shake the walls. The cymbals are splashed liberally throughout the album, adding a crisp, metallic edge to the sound that cuts through the fuzz like a knife. What’s remarkable about the drumming on this album is the way it manages to be both chaotic and precise. There’s a method to the madness, with each hit perfectly timed to accentuate the wild energy of the music. The drums don’t just keep the beat; they drive the songs forward, propelling them into the stratosphere with a force that’s impossible to ignore.
The Anomalys have always been a band that thrives on chaos, and on Down The Hole, they’ve embraced this fully. The album is a glorious mess of noise, distortion, and sheer volume, yet it’s all held together by a peculiar formula that’s unmistakably The Anomalys. There’s a sense of unhinged energy to the album, as if the band is teetering on the edge of losing control, yet somehow managing to keep it together just enough to deliver a wild and tight performance. What sets Down The Hole apart from the band’s previous work is the sheer intensity of it. There’s more fuzz, more distortion, and more volume than ever before, creating a sound that’s almost overwhelming in its ferocity. The band has taken the raw energy of their earlier work and turned it up to eleven, resulting in an album that feels like a punch to the gut in the best possible way. One of the most striking aspects of Down The Hole is the way it manages to sound both timeless and modern. There are clear echoes of late-sixties garage rock and seventies punk throughout the album, with nods to bands like MC5, The Stooges and The New York Dolls. The guitar riffs, the vocal delivery, and the overall rawness of the sound all harken back to a time when rock ‘n’ roll was dangerous and unpredictable. Yet, despite these influences, Down The Hole never feels like a mere throwback. The Anomalys have taken the sounds of the past and twisted them into something that feels fresh and exciting. There’s a touch of eighties d-beat and hardcore punk in the mix as well, adding an extra layer of aggression to the sound that keeps it from ever feeling nostalgic. This is an album that’s firmly rooted in the present, even as it pays homage to the past.
Down The Hole is an album that demands to be played loud. It’s a raw, unfiltered burst of energy that captures the essence of what makes The Anomalys such a compelling band. The guitar riffs are excellent, the drumming is relentless, and the vocals are commanding, all coming together to create a sound that’s as chaotic as it is captivating. This is The Anomalys at their most unhinged, and it’s glorious. For fans of garage punk, rock ‘n’ roll, or anyone who appreciates music with a bit of grit and grime, Down The Hole is a must-listen. It’s a reminder that rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t need to be polished to be powerful, and that sometimes, the best music is the kind that makes you want to turn up the volume and lose yourself in the noise. Head to Slovenly Records and purchase this punk rock gem on vinyl!
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