THE ACRO-BRATS Hair Trigger cd
I looked up the definition of a brat and it said “A child, especially one spoiled or ill mannered.” Well, Chris Brat (Vocals/Guitar) does also play for The Spoilers though his manners are impeccable. For acrobat it says, “Skilled performer of gymnastic feats,” and I think this does describe them as they skillfully juggle influences from several different genres to expertly create a complete whole. There’s pop, punk, metal, classic rock, glam, rock’n’roll (sorry, no Soca) that they blend into a tasty, tropical treat with boisterous, bountiful beats. Actually, they remind me of the Tenafly Vipers, though they sound nothing like them, by the fact they combine all the styles Thrash N Bang focuses on and they play them all well.
First up is “Crave” a high energy, rockin’. pogoin’ blast of punk. But it just doesn’t offer that, dear reader. Oh, no! Soon the song changes key twice and towards the end we get a groovin’ sludgy metal break that leads us back to the beginning punk and onward to musical bliss. A wild ride and a great tune.
Next is “Hair Trigger” which reminds me a lot of the L.A.Guns, an 80’s glam metal band. I loved that band so this reference is definitely a compliment from me. Maybe a little more upbeat, more gritty vocals than the Guns but that’s just an improvement to my way of thinking.
“Simpleton” I would simply call rock’roll with its big drum beat, chuggin’ fuzzin’ guitar and sustained lead licks guitar of Chris and Daniel Brat (Siamese twins playing a two necked guitar). Definitely a glam influence on this one, I could see Mott The Hoople doing this one. And that simple guitar lick bringing it out is so perfect that it could be worthy of Bachman Turner Overdrive, this is my second favorite song on this disc.
“Rebel Rebel” a great tune written for them by David Bowie is next. A favorite old Boston band of mine, Human Sexual Response, did a version of this song. The Brats do it ten times faster than the original. It calls to mind when Bowie did his hardcore album of all hardcore versions of his hits. This is a really fun version of “Rebel Rebel” with added nod to the dexterous bass playing of Swid. The ending, after Chris gives the signal by screaming, “Hot tramp, I love you, so! – Where they speed it up to twenty times is just too good for words but I will say it’s the most kick ass ending I’ve heard in a long time.
“Well Enough Alone” is the last song and my favorite on a cd that hits five for five. It’s got a great garage rock lick and rollin’ thundering drums throughout, thanks to drum smasher, Elihu, who brings the song with a slashing snare hits race to the end ‘til all the amps catch on fire, singeing Swid’s pubic hair and causing the world to tilt off axis.
So, in conclusion, I’m gonna call these Brats rock’n’roll pop with punk, metal and glam influences. No, I’m gonna change that, I‘ll call them Punk Glam. Always energetic, always rockin’ with interesting arrangements, able playing, killer beats, gritty vocals and cool guitars. And more fun than going to the circus and watching them sweep up elephant shit, by far.
(Slimedog)
