After creating music for 20 years, California-based punk band Strung Out has experienced an overall growth as musicians, evolution in musical style and a fan base that has for the most part held true over the years.
With their seventh and most recent release “Agents of the Underground” (2009), the quintet creates another rock-solid, hard-hitting collection of songs that does not back down.
“Agents of the Underground” starts fast and loud with opening track “Black Crosses” and never looks back. Vocalist Jason Cruz, guitarists Jake Kiley and Rob Ramos, bassist Chris Aiken and drummer Jordan Burns take off like a post-punk rocket ship, blending their melodic punk roots with their later-developed metal tastes.
The band members have perfected their crafts musically, from Kiley and Ramos’ intense and intricate riffs, to Aiken’s speedy rhythms and Burns’ unrelenting drums.
The guitarists show off their face-melting abilities in the manic finale of “The Fever and the Sound” and wailing solos (reminiscent of the early days of Strung Out’s San Francisco-based label Fat Wreck Chords) in the fast-paced, upbeat “Jack Knife.”
“Agents of the Underground” seamlessly delves into punk, rock, metal, pop and hardcore, while keeping a cohesive, accessible sound for any listener.
The song “Dead Spaces” may be the best example of this hodge-podge phenomenon. Starting out with seriously fast and heavy double bass drum kicks, metal turns to pop/punk during the catchy, melodic chorus. The song jumps back to a classic, punk rock guitar solo before hitting the metal again. Even with all the change-ups and genre-bending, “Dead Spaces” is fluid throughout, clearly illustrating Strung Out’s ability to incorporate all their influences into something that stands out as undeniably “their own.”
Closing with the most melodic, poppy song on the album “Andy Warhol,” Strung Out literally goes full circle on this album, from its beginning in “Black Crosses.”
Strung Out plays an all-ages show at Chop Suey in Seattle with Rufio, We Are The Union, and Larry and His Flask on Aug. 25.
Reviewed by Clare Jensen
