The cover of Atom Driver’s EP, ‘In the West.’
Featuring ex-members of Buzzkill, Boss Jim Gettys and Good Clean Fun, the local supergroup Atom Driver has released its second in EP in six months, aptly titled In the West in honor of the positive experience the musicians had making the five-song collection at the Hub City studio on Jersey Avenue.
The grungy opener “Mamouskha” kicks things off nicely with a nod to the fuzzy chunk of Hawkwind and the snotty spout of Dead Kennedys. The entertaining sonic onslaught continues with the Fugazi-like barrage of “Wournous.”
The primal tempo flirt of “All This and More” would shake the plaster from the basement of any New Brunswick show house. The same is true of “Toetapper’s Revenge.”
The closing “Play Dead” reminds me of Nudeswirl, the New Brunswick grunge act whose early ’90s appearance on MTV’s “Beavis and Butt-Head” finally brought the Hub City scene the national attention it deserved. Unfortunately, the show also forced Butthead to change their name to Buzzkill, but that worked with a record deal from Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles.
ATOM DRIVER
I’m happy that “In the West” continues in the tradition of those great New Brunswick bands. Available only on Bandcamp, the music also can be heard at Atom Driver’s release party on Aug. 26 at Pino’s in Highland Park with Mr. Payday, who also will celebrate the release of a new album (see a review in a couple of weeks), plus Sux, featuring ex-members of Adrenaline O.D., and Little Dickman recording act Dentist.
Atom Driver also will play Sept. 2 at Meatlocker in Montclair and Sept. 16 at Millhill Basement in Trenton with World Sucks.
Bob Makin is the reporter for MyCentralJersey.com/
CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET
Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.
