by Stephen Hicks (@stephenthicks)
Far away from the thriving sludge metal Georgia scene at its commercial peak, Portland, Oregon quartet Red Fang’s 2009 self-titled debut fit snugly amongst their peers with saturated, percussive guitars and skeletal album artwork. What made the self-proclaimed “goofy lookin’” band, comprised of bassist/vocalist Aaron Beam, guitarist/vocalist Bryan Giles, guitarist David Sullivan and drummer John Sherman, truly special was their relatable image of never being too old to chug some beer and rock out in a dark dive bar.
Their fifth release (and fourth from Relapse Records), Arrows, finally sees the group match their colorful personality with a bright, psychedelic aesthetic. Chugging tracks like “Unreal Estate” and “Anodyne” will please the old fist-pumping fans, and the punk-adjacent “My Disaster” and “Rabbits in Hives” show they can still kick it into high gear. Added orchestra sections on “Fonzi Scheme” and the titular track shows a natural growth for the band getting comfortable with bigger production to couple their powerful anthems without sounding too experimental.
The real treats are the tinges of Northwestern grunge influence: the Dirt-y sway of the outro on “Why,” plus Beam and Giles’ harmonies on “Days Collide” reflecting that of a grittier Staley/Cantrell. Album closer “Funeral Coach” sends the listener home with a garage jam featuring humbling lyrics “Don’t be killed by pride/You’re not too young to die.” It is great to know Red Fang can still deliver reliable rock and roll that still lets loose with a youthful spirit.