Strung Out

Blackhawks Over Los Angeles

[3.5/4]


Strung Out learned their lesson years ago on what makes them such a sought-after melodic/metallic punk phenom: Sing-along choruses plus synchronized, staccato guitar riffs multiplied by cranked tempos typically equals total audience pleasure. And there’s certainly no lack of applying the aforementioned formula to their seventh full-length, Blackhawks Over Los Angeles. But after 15 years in the biz, the SoCal fivesome are slowly revealing a smidge more of a moderate edge, and they’re unquestionably better for it. In fact, the best material on Blackhawks are metronome-friendly, midtempo numbers buried in the latter half of the disc, including the Foo Fighters-esque radio-ready winner "Downtown," the funky hustle of "Diver" and the ever-engaging "Mission Statement." These tracks deliver more poignant musical passages than the rest of the album’s roster, largely without the continuous guitar noodling present on several other numbers. Vocalist Jason Cruz sounds absolutely superb, carefully aided and abetted by the stellar stickwork (and footwork) of drummer Jordan Burns. However, such musicianship is buttressed by the largely innocuous production that doesn’t push the parameters set forth by 2004’s Exile In Oblivion. Granted, these scene vets know not to mess with success, but it’s also nice to see that a little exploration makes for a far more interesting listen. (FAT WRECK CHORDS) Waleed Rashidi

ROCKS LIKE:

Bad Religion’s The Empire Strikes First

Foo Fighters’ The Colour And The Shape

Lagwagon’s Trashed