Flamethrower is at their best when channeling
In My Head-era
Black Flag: the thrashy and violent "Drowning and Empty," the ominous "Drop Out" (which maybe even has some vintage
Descendents in there), "Mad," with it's
Rollins-esque spoken word verses, and the aptly titled "Nervous Breakdown" (not a
Black Flag cover, by the way). They're just not as strong as
the Queens of the Stone Age with stoner rock ("Coked Up"), and the
Supersuckers' cowpunk on the shallow and materialistic "I Want It All" just isn't up to the band's otherwise tremendous standards. It's a great album, for sure, but also one where
Flamethrower works out their own unique sound, and they happen to do punk with a little metal mixed in better than vice versa. Give them a raucous punk rock anthem like "27," and they're unstoppable. ~ Charles Spano