It's been 9 years since we last heard from the punk/hardcore/stoner/crossover thrash supergroup known as Sun & Sail Club, but they are finally back with their latest release from Heavy Psych Sounds Records, the 22-minute, 11-track album called Shipwrecked. The band, check full of SoCal pedigree, is comprised of guitarist Bob Balch (Fu Manchu, Slower, Bog Scenic Nowhere, Yawning Balch), drummer Scott Reeder (Fu Manchu, Smile), bassist Scott Reeder (Kyuss, The Obsessed, Fireball Ministry), and vocalist Tony Adolescent (The Adolescents). As the album is just over 20-minutes long (I guess since there are 11 tracks it's not called an EP?), it's a brisk and entertaining listen, though don't get lulled into a false sense of security with the opening solo jazz guitar piece from Balch called "Just Friends", as the following songs burst through the speakers with frantic hardcore punk venom, stoner attitude, and crossover thrash musicianship. "Halcyon", "Torture Garden", "Vector", and the wild "The Color of War" hit hard and with plenty of manic intensity, the latter featuring some furious riffing from Balch and some of Reeder's best drumming on the album. "Drag the River" is the closest the band comes to lumbering stoner/doom on the album, and "Taste the Blood" even dabbles in some fun surf guitar at the outset. With "Days of Wine and Roses", Balch closes the album as he opens, with a lovely little bit of solo jazz guitar. Ultimately, Shipwrecked is a fun 'short' album, with most of the songs between 1-3 minutes long and not overstaying their welcome. I'm not always a fan of Tony's more punk styled vocals, but musically there's some ripping stuff happening here, and most of the songs are pretty catchy and heavy, so it's pretty easy to recommend this one. Hopefully, it's not another decade for the next one.
Track Listing
1.
Just Friends 01:01
2.
Halcyon 02:21
3.
Torture Garden 01:37
4.
Tumble 02:47
5.
Vector 01:04
6.
Bird Strike 01:58
7.
The Color Of War 01:40
8.
Drag The River 03:04
9.
District 19 02:40
10.
Tastes Like Blood 03:33
11.
Days Of Wine And Roses 01:20
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