California punk-metal trailblazers Strung Out have risen from the underground to unleash “Transmission. Alpha. Delta,” a 12-track barrage of adrenaline-fueled anthems.
Twenty-five years since the band first hit the scene and 21 years since its first album, “Another Day in Paradise,” was released on longtime label Fat Wreck Chords, Strung Out have continued to stretch their melodic skate-punk roots toward a more diverse, technical and explosive sound.
“Transmission. Alpha. Delta” is the culmination of a career of unwavering progress. The guitars shred more proficiently. The rhythms batter and groove more effectively. And vocalist Jason Cruz croons, wails and scathes with authority. Producer Kyle Black also asserts his presence out of the gate. The hulking clarity of the instruments is something that Strung Out have lacked throughout much of their career. Yet, the album never sounds over-produced.
Charlie Chaplin – yes, that Charlie Chaplin – opens the first act with an excerpt from “The Great Dictator.” What follows, however, is anything but black and white. “Rats in the Walls” is a call-to-arms with technical finesse and gang vocals that would make Van Halen proud. Speaking of the gang vocals, guitarist Rob Ramos and bassist Chris Aiken take their already-stellar backing vocals to new heights on “Delta.” Combined with lightning-fast leads, a harmonized guitar solo and a chorus that graces “the dark side of the moon,” “Rats” is a defining opening statement.
“Rebellion of the Snakes” continues the sonic charge while increasing the venom. A stalking riff combines with a breakneck beat from drummer Jordan Burns before exploding into the album’s most frenetic attack. The deceptively alluring chorus provides momentary solace from Ramos and co-guitarist Jake Kiley’s vicious riffs. A scaling solo sweeps over a murky rhythm to finish the onslaught.
Three tracks later, an alternating bass riff makes way for “Black Maps,” one of Strung Out’s most powerful songs to date. Dust rises into the nighttime air over an open road as shifting tempos lead us into the unknown with only Cruz’s ascendant vocals to light the way, and the singer makes a pronounced display of his penchant for poetic lyrics. “In dreams I navigate to the space inside my heart, where I find grace among these souls that only live to hate,” says Cruz in the first verse. The song winds through peaks and valleys before it reaches a soaring guitar solo and cruises across its entrancing flurry of cascading notes. The journey ends with a wall of shouts declaring “We’re all lost,” followed by a soothing bass-driven crescendo.
Proving that the band’s roots still have a place in today’s musical landscape, “Nowheresville” provides a nostalgic burst of ‘90s skate-punk bliss. Fans of Strung Out’s seminal 1998 release, “Twisted by Design,” will be especially fond of the tune’s thrashing major-key riffs and double-time gallop. Sun-soaked melodies and a bouncing breakdown harken to a simpler time of circle pits and a hunger for discovery. If anything, Strung Out have improved their formula for crafting half-pipe-ready rippers.
Thanks in large part to “Design’s” apex closer, “Matchbook,” Strung Out have become a band that is often measured by its ability to finish an album. And “Westcoasttrendkill” doesn’t disappoint. The song opens with a heavy metal tornado of guitars, bass and drums that ups the horns and further pushes the boundaries of punk rock. The whirlwind briefly idles on a bittersweet bassline and Cruz’s opening avowal before the rest of the band kicks back into gear. Once again, Cruz shows off his lyrical prowess with introspection and contemplative similes. “Like thunder in your sky, like looking up and wondering why,” says Cruz during the final chorus, “… Articulate the chaos and the way to resurrection, you are the bullet that killed the revolution, cuz you’re the sum of every moment that you’ve been alive.” His steady stream of inflection adds even more emotional heft to his captivating proclamations. Strung Out ties the song and album together with another illuminating crescendo, marking a climactic end to a thrilling ride.
Not many bands reach an eighth album and even fewer make it their best. But with “Transmission. Alpha. Delta,” Strung Out have done just that. The band has poured every ounce of its experience and musical skill into an album that took more than five years to reach daylight, and it was worth the wait. This is the sound of confidence and purpose. End transmission.
