“Put your hands where my eyes can see” are the first cries of American Fangs vocalist Gabriel Cavalos seconds into opening track ‘Slavery Wedding’. With only three seconds of feedback before the track comes in with its Gallows energy-meets-Busta Rhymes lyrics, it sets the simple yet powerful tone for the album. With ten tracks spread over 25 minutes, the Texas post hardcore five-piece have a lot of energy to dish out in not very much time.
There wasn’t much touring and no album releases last year, but any year spent working on this can’t really be dismissed as ‘quiet’. Aforementioned opener ‘Slavery Wedding’, the shortest track at only 1:35, manages to get a good groove going despite its short length and ‘Death of Me’ keeps a steady pace with some melodic hooks. Cavalos is singing one minute (that’s all it takes to get between tracks) on ‘Counting Wolves’ and chanting the next on ‘Say What!’, a track more guitar riff-based, although for better or for worse, there’s no time for guitar solos on this LP.
The subtle vocals of ‘Leukoplakia’ even show that this album is more than just an ADHD-fuelled blast before ‘Black Eyed’ and ‘Bukkake Summer’ bring up the tempo, the latter’s repeated “put you in tears” hooks injecting some catchiness into the already memorable mix.
At 2:50, the longest track on the album, ‘Brazilian Axe’ is powered by an old-school swagger, while ‘You’ve Got Future Written All Over Your Future’, sounds how Motörhead would if they dealt in gang vocals and breakdowns, ending the album the same way it starts; fast but effective.
A high-tempo offering that contains enough attitude to suggest an exciting live show, but enough songwriting skills to suggest American Fangs have potential written all over their future.
ALEC EVANS