Like a more credible and less goofy version of some of the commercial mall-punk bands,
the Rumblers are a tough, driving band of true punk rockers who nonetheless keep a sweetly poppy edge to their sound. (Imagine early
Social Distortion -- leader Donny Switchblade has more than a little
Mike Ness in his gravelly vocals -- toying with
the Ramones' bubblegum tendencies and you're most of the way there.) Melodic yet powerful, songs like "Sinning (Feels So Right)" and "If the Drinking Don't Kill Me" meld singalong choruses to walloping riffs, and the refreshing lack of both nu-metal whining and punk-pop juvenility makes even songs with names like "Every Fuckin' Night" and the jailbait anthem "Hell to Pay" (both of them under-two-minute blasts of pure, unrefined ramalama) seem smart, fresh, and funny. Dan Lumley and Danny Vapid of
Screeching Weasel both guest, and Switchblade borrows his rhythm section from the current lineup of
the Queers; obviously
the Rumblers have a solid place in the Bay Area punk-pop scene, but Donny Switchblade has enough personality to make them their own band. ~ Stewart Mason