Vital Stress: S/T 7"

Vital Stress: S/T 7” (self-released) 5-song debut self-released 7” from this Cleveland band who is on the Sorry State family tree: Jayson from Knowso plays drums and Richard from Yambag (who we haven’t released a record by, but love) plays bass. “Cleveland punk” can evoke a range of different sounds, but Vital Stress reaches way back to the beginning for inspiration, drawing from bands like the Dead Boys and the Pagans. The first track, “Poison Seeds,” is the best example of this, a Dead Boys-style rager that tacks James Williamson-inspired hot guitar licks onto a song that’s driving and menacing, yet has this subtle undercurrent of melancholy melody. Vital Stress has two singers who alternate songs, and their vocal styles bring very different vibes to their respective songs. Jake’s songs have that desperate, hoarse, Stiv Bators kind of thing that you might expect given what Vital Stress’s music sounds like, while Mickey’s songs are seasoned with a touch of sass. The songwriting here is fantastic, with killer rocked-out riffs, dramatic changes that pull you through the songs and keep them exciting, and lead guitar parts that are ripping but also have a strong melodies rather than aimless flurries of notes. I feel like a ton of bands go for this tough 70s punk sound (who wouldn’t want to sound like the Dead Boys and the Pagans?), but few land on something as compelling as these five tracks. Totally killer.