Godless America Records/ True Trash (label)
30 October 2015 (released)
08 November 2015
The great horned beast may be on the cover of this latest album from the US’s Room Full of Strangers but Bad Vacation is no great left turn to the world of black metal. No, this is very much a punk orientated album, and then some.
Steering towards the poppier original punk/garage sound of the late 70’s rather than the early 80’s 100 mph aggro fest, RFS have a loose almost casual, though highly melodic sound. We Know, and the ultra-catchy bounce of Perfect Stay being a prime examples. It’s that ear for a melody and Mick McLuan’s vaguely Biafraish tones that drive this album.
Having said that they are not afraid to experiment as the use of saxophone and keyboards on Summers in Space takes the listener on an unexpected psychedelic trip (no pun intended), almost a mini epic. Other highlights are the pacey You’re PC, the slightly of the wall Swimming in Circles and the seedy alleyway slink of Trash Can Annie.
On the minus side the production is underwhelming; the drums particularly bad, sounding at times like knitting needles on a Rowntrees sweet tin. That’s a niggle but overall it’s an enjoyable album.
