Out Now on Chaos In Tejas Records/Todo Destruido
Chris Ulsh is a pretty busy guy. Playing in Hatred Surge, Power Trip, and Mammoth Grinder tends to keep one busy. This Chris Ulsh project, however, is a bit different than the others. It could be classified as d-beat, it could be classified as straight up punk with metal leanings. Whatever it’s classified, The Impalers straight up tear through ten tracks on their self-titled LP.
The Impalers are partial to knee-jerk aggressive punk rock and hardcore. They exist in a real where their savage, thoroughly refined noise carries all kinds of weight. There’s a lack of punk rock that’s any good; look at what’s being shelled out these days — cookie-cutter bands trying to “fight the man” all while soaking up the lucrative deal they made with their record label. The Impalers desire to push themselves out of the garage and into the minds of studded jacket wearing rock ‘n rollers becomes apparent as their sound deviates from the simple power-chord punches of 1977 glory and begins to focus on throat-ripping metallic sections, rife with layered guitar work.
It’s a different sound altogether — more raw than Nails and All Pigs Must Die but equally as effective. It retains all that pent up vitriol; the kind you slog beers back to. Hell, you can do pretty much anything to this music; drive to it drink to it beat someone up to it whatever you want to it — do it. It’s musical pugilism. After all, that’s the true essence of punk rock. It’s an all out war between the mind and body, the kind of soul-tearing that leaves you strung out like you’ve been on a drug bender, yearning for the next rush. Take the track “Church Bitch”. What could be classified as a direct homage to New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the track goes topsy-turvy, moving at such a clip that almost threatens the safety of the listener. It’s the kind of music that rock ‘n roll dreams are made of — the ones we had before we started writing about it.
It’s balls-to-the-wall intensity, and, to quote Entombed, “can I fit six billion in my car, drive it off a cliff, go out like a dinosaur?” and the answer you’d get is abso-fucking-lutely. This mentality doesn’t give a shit if you up-chucked all your whiskey; if you ain’t still drinking afterward you’re not doing it right. It’s the music your mother hated you listening to. It’s like hearing “Kick Out the Jams” for the first time; you know that sheer power of “KICK OUT THE JAMS MOTHERFUCKER”. MC5 did something great there, and The Impalers give off the same earnest spirit of rebellion.
“Holy War” sounds like bombs dropping. It’s machine-gun fire rate, its furious intensity, and it’s punchiness all give off this insatiable addiction. It sticks with you. You want to hear those luscious chords again, the crunch crunch crack bam boom whap whap whap, the inaudible vocal stylings. Makes you want to buy a vest, load it up with patches. Go on a long road trip and get a case of beer, make sure it’s Heineken. Pay homage to Jeff Hanneman. Listen to The Impalers. Make sure it’s loud. Wake up the neighbors. And for God’s sake, whatever you do, make sure you do it again.
Brian Böeckmån
December 6, 2013 at 7:06 am
Only Ulsh and Sharp play on this.
Kyle Lewis
October 4, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Sick, i’ve been following The Impalers since their demo release. So stoked on this, sounds amazing. Ordered and waiting! Fuck yeah!
Μιχαήλ Ανδρέας
October 1, 2013 at 9:06 pm
hey idiot, you’re aware there are other great musicians on this album right?
Shabba Ranks
October 1, 2013 at 1:05 pm
is Mike Sharp on this?
Μιχαήλ Ανδρέας
October 1, 2013 at 9:13 pm
Yes. victor of atx’s criaturas is on guitar as well as two other members, who at the time of this recording might have been new members. if not, then the members would have been joel renkainen on bass and brian boeckman (of mammoth grinder) on 2nd guitar. i’m unsure of who did tracking though.