“Zombie Disco,” the opening cut on the Sept. 2020 four-song release from Middle Tennessee rock trio Malibu Blackout, sounds, well, about how one might imagine a zombie disco to sound.
The frantic dance-punk vibe that opens the Sir Devil Dude EP builds into a catchy repetition of the word Tsunami as a powerful wave wall of cymbals crash aggressively in straight-ahead rock fashion. A tight harmony line of “oohhhs” punctuates the track just after a neat break in the guitar fury.
Something about the wild and messy but still calculated and steady sound brings to mind area band Stuck Lucky and others in the punk realm.
Malibu Blackout—Cory Johnson, Chris Husak and David Woods—has also released a groovy black-and-white music video to accompany “Zombie Disco,” featuring the trio rocking out in an old cabin being invaded by . . . you guessed it . . . zombies.
Continuing this energetic, driving rock feel on the EP (which the band recorded at Johnson’s West Side Ranch in Nashville) is “Deeper,” which should definitely get some heads nodding.
Closing the compact collection, the track displays some wild and fuzzy guitar effects on its instrumental portion. It’s rockin’.
Husak packs a whole lot of rapid activity into his drumming, but not too much for him to handle, as he remains in the pocket and remains right on a steady flow.
Johnson maybe channels a little Mike Patton in this one as the vocalist goes to a lower register in “Deeper.” Makes sense.
Offering a texture change, the intro of “Waste Another Year” takes it down to a calmer, lower volume. Slurvy, perhaps, to create a term—a slow, syrupy, swervy groove, as Johnson sings in left-hand cursive, I write a little note over a slithering bass line.
The song unfolds into a more peppy and upbeat feeling before snapping into a really nice, tight ending.
Hearing these talented garage-rock players rocking out calls to mind a bit of Red Hot Chili Peppers, another California-related group employing active bass lines, pretty vocal melodies and a hard-rock edge.
The EP, adorned by a cool, colorful and trippy cover drawing of the band members produced by Johnson’s wife, Kellyn, makes for a fun, hard-rocking release that combines punk-rock, power-pop and surf energies. Expect a full-length release coming from Malibu Blackout in 2021. Find Sir Devil Dude on Soundcloud or Spotify.
