Crazy Arm - Dark Hands, Thunderbolts
Crazy Arms have been going for a good while now and this is their fourth album for Xtra Mile but I have to confess that this is the first I have of ’em. On the evidence of this LP – their first since 2013 - that is a surprise. Crazy Arm play a punked-up, high-energy take on roots music that is right up my street. There are similarities to the likes of Skinny Lister, Bootscraper or Roughneck Riot but that’s not all. There are dashes of cow-punk, Morricone’s epic soundtracks, bluegrass and Appalachian Americana.
All of the songs are extremely listenable. Most of them gallop along at a right old pace, mixing shoutalong anthemic choruses with thunderous drums and bass, choppy guitars, swooning strings and uplifting brass. It seems unfair to pick any song out as particularly praiseworthy but there’s some stunning trumpet lighting up Fear Up whilst the violin led instrumental interlude of Dearborn is tear-jerking. The Golden Hind rocks out like a mutha, Mow The Sward is pop-punk at its best whilst Trail of Meds injects DC hardcore energy into grunge riffage.
I may be late to the Crazy Arm party but better late than never! This is a cracker.
9/10
