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BACON WAGON "Trauma Cake"
BACON WAGON "Trauma Cake"
By Dr. Abner Mality
We're going back to 1993 for this one...or at least, that's what it seems like. This Swedish noise rock band could have easily been hanging out with Steve Albini (R.I.P.) back in the day before joining either AmRep or Subpop labels. This is skronky, feedback-obsessed riff rock right out of the glory days of JESUS LIZARD, CHERUBS, TAD or BUTTHOLE SURFERS.
In fact, the biggest issue I have with this is that if fits so comfortably into that early 90's noise rock pattern that it flirts with utter mimicry. There's almost something too pat about how it ticks every box for that genre. Now, don't take that as a major criticism, because "Trauma Cake" often rocks like hell, but BACON WAGON is doing absolutely nothing of their own here. It's Noise Rock 101.
That being said, there's a lot of filthy licks and dirty grooves to like here, mixed with teeth-grating squalls of feedback and snide "slacker" vocals relating ironic nonsense. "Tar Salad" is a perfect noise rock song title if I've ever heard one and the music follows suit...gooey, syrupy riffs and a rough feel. The tracks come at you pretty fast and nothing overstays its welcome. "Honey, I'm Home" has a super raw riff that ELECTRIC WIZARD would kill to get these days and "Bear Of A Man" is more of the same, with a punky edge of aggression. There's no pretty or poppy tunes on the whole record....track titles like "Lady Cramps", "Love Blister" and "A Voodoo That Actually Works" are full of the surreal sarcasm that classic AmRep/Touch N Go bands were built on.
Again, a little too "all-purpose noise rock" to get total thumbs up, but if you're into that rough and screechy vibe, there's plenty to like here.
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