Strung Out have quite possibly the most loyal fanbase around. Without having to whore themselves out to MTV or a major label, the So-Cal quintet have managed to sell bucketloads of cds and maintain their punk rock ethos. ‘An American Paradox’, their newest CD, is typical Strung Out. But I have a feeling that even the most loyal of fans will be slightly disappointed.
Formed in 1992, this lot have gone on to sell a combined total of nearly 500,000 records, amazing seeing as though every single record has been put out independently. ‘An American Paradox’ is the boys fourth full length record, four years further down the line from their last LP, ‘Twisted By Design’. So have the guys changed much since they’ve been away? Well, no to be honest, and that’s kind of a good thing. Except for all the hard work that has obviously gone into this record, it’s just not as good as some of the older stuff.
The album opens with the classic ‘Velvet Alley’ which is everything that you have come to expect from Strung Out. Aggressive, yet melodic and emotional, it’s as fast and furious as anything the band have done previously. And if this doesn’t get the adrenaline going and the blood pumping, then nothing will. The amazing guitar solo’s are all present and correct and Jordan’s drumming is top-notch. So far, so good. ‘Kill Your Scene’ is less frenetic and more melodic, although Jason Cruz’s vocals are harsher. It’s a good song but not as good as the first. A smart riff opens up ‘Alien Amplifier‘, which again is perhaps more melody driven than your typical Strung Out number. And there is even more than a hint of moog thrown into the melting pot. Strung Out gone emo? No, not quite, but it’s definitely a bit different to what you’d expect the boys to come out with.
‘Cult Of The Subterranean’ is much darker and twisted, with their punk/metal fusion much more evident. And whilst the chorus maintains the kind of catchiness that Strung Out have mastered over the years, the song itself is a bit bland. It’s not that bad, just there are so many better Strung Out songs about. ‘Lubricating The Revolution’ sounds like a whole number of old SO songs. Which is good if you’re a big fan, but it doesn’t excatly show much of a departure in the bands sound. Four years have passed and yet this song sounds as though it could have been written in 1998. The solo two-thirds of the way through is brilliant however, a real homage to old-skool hair metal.
‘The Kids’ sounds a hell of a lot like Pennywise, even more so than usual. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but in sounding so much like one of their peers Strung Out just lose a little of their own identity. The slow, meandering intro of ‘UnKoil’ sets the tone for the first real letdown, a track which screams of mediocrity. ‘Contender’ is far better, pacey and an air-drummers delight. ‘Satellite’ is a bit slower by Strung Out standards, and this seems to suit the band as the vocal melodies and guitar lines go hand-in-hand rather nicely.
Album title track ‘An American Paradox’ is far more pissed off and again sounds a bit like Pennywise. ‘Dig’ uses effects to the full at the beginning to create a rather spaced out guitar sound, but unfortunately the song, which again isn’t that bad, screams out to be played much faster. For once Strung Out seem to be holding back and I never thought I’d ever say that. ‘Razor Sex’ is anything but relaxed, with pent-up aggression and some scything riffs blasting from your speakers. It’s very metal in places, with Jason screaming his head off. It’s also one of the better songs. The CD ends with the first single, ‘Cemetery’, a track which is rather strange really. A lot of fans seem to like this song, but I just cannot get into it. The high-pitched guitar line doesn’t really work for me, and there’s simply no chorus. Jason’s vocals don’t appear to be at their strongest either. Maybe it’s a grower, but after listening to this record solidly for nearly a week, I still cannot fully appreciate it.
Strung Out fans will probably love ‘An American Paradox’, but I don’t think it will gain them that many new fans. It’s not their best album and although it’s not that bad, I’d much rather spend 41 minutes of my time doing something else. Some great songs, some good songs, some average songs. Just try ‘Twisted By Design’ – it’s a much better album…
Paul Savage