Record Label: Bonedog Records
Genre: Rockabilly
Band Link: link
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When it comes to Western Pennsylvania there arent many local bands that you can take pride in. Dozens of cover bands and your occasional blues band dont really draw a crowd other than the usual bar regulars. The Marauders are one of only a handful of bands that I personally can be proud of. Not only do they perform one of the best live shows that I have ever witnessedwhether its playing for half a dozen people in a thunderstorm or tearing through tunes to a crowd of hundreds, but the Marauders are just flat out ridiculously good. The songwriting is intelligent, fun and witty; the songs are catchy and easy to sing a long with and their musical abilities are incredible. This may be somewhat of a stretch to some but its like watching a band like Social Distortion in their early stagesyou can just feel that they are destined for something bigger.
Dial M For Marauder is the bands fourth official release. While their last album had a slight punk edge to it, Dial M invokes the bands rebel rock roots. Dont worry though because they most certainly didnt forget about their rockabilly and honky tonk influences.
Throughout the thirteen tracks on this album, the majority of them are new tracks, but there are also some re-recorded songs that finally get the high production treatment. Roadkillone of the bands live crowd pleasers gets a crisper sound while the tempo was upped on songs like Oh My My and We Are The Marauders.
While the re-recorded songs are great, the brand new tracks are the meat and potatoes of the album. Juvenile Frustration is one part the Kinks and one part Footloose. She Took A Shot is a country song storyline with a rockabilly soundtrack. On The Radio is pure angst and longing for somethinganythingto rise up from the underground and break through the soul-less garbage that is being played on the radio today. Were gonna rock. Were gonna roll. Theres a lot of that going on out there, but you wont hear any of it playing on the radio. An anthem if Ive ever heard one.
I didnt think that anything come even come close to the Marauders self-titled release but for a band like them, there really shouldnt have been any doubts. Dial M For Marauder is a great listen. If you like your rockabilly edgy or if you just need a taste of something that is different than your usual Nickelback and Three Days Grace, then pick up a copy of Dial M For Marauder or anything by this raucous band. You wont be disappointed.
Bottom Line: If youre a fan of older Tiger Army or the Nekromantix, then the Marauders are right up your alley; that dark, foreboding alley that youre afraid to walk down at night alone.
Notable Tracks: She Took A Shot, Juvenile Frustration, On The Radio, 10 Year Drifter, Roadkill
Overall Rating: