Madd Comrades - Brutalist

Madd Comrades

Brutalist
self-released; 2014

3.9 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

The names I got for the Madd Comrades are Mr. Honey, the femme and M. Moody. I like it. Their influences are bands like Meat Puppets, Stone Roses and Television. They got my attention. At this point I’m expecting Brutalist to impress me. I press play and guess what friends - my expectations were met. The four songs on Brutalist celebrate vintage punk bands like The Buzzocks while simultaneously tipping their hat to post-punk art rockers like Sonic Youth. Madd Comrades can also be compared to contemporary acts like Ty Segall and The Savages. 

I’m a sucker for girls who can belt it out behind a wall of gritty guitar and abrasive. It’s damn sexy and it works here. Her voice is in command and you can’t help but think of demi-god queens like Chrissie Hynde and Patti Smith. 

Before we delve into the songs I need to bring up the production. The sound they have here is a near perfect balance of raw and polished textures. It sounds like a band playing in a room but it also doesn’t sound like they just held up one mic in the room and pressed record. You can be authentic and raw without sounding bad. The proof is right here.

The band starts off hitting it hard with an onslaught of distorted guitars and drums. It delivers the visceral energy you want to feel when going to the hippest punk club in the city that fits about fifty people. “Squeeze Theorem” is an excellent beginning to an EP that continues to deliver.

The guitars start to break at the seams on “Brutalist” as the vocalist is covered in a smooth hall like reverb. Her angelic-esque vocals create an engaging dichotomy against the white noise. She sings, “This is the end the crow you spit the cud you chew when you're finally sick when you're finally through.”

The last two tracks “Come Closer + TV” and “Bohemio” solidified that the band was the real deal for me. It was more loose, chaotic noise that my ears were happy with. The best news about this band is they just got started last year. Can’t wait to hear what's next. For fans of Jesus Lizard, The Misfits, The Pretenders, The Savages and you get the idea.  

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