Album Info

Rock - 2009

Jokingly referring to their sound as “graphicdesignercore” in the early days, Baltimore trio Double Dagger seem to now be accepting... more

Tracklist

1

No Allies

2:44 min
2

Vivre sans temps mort

5:24 min
3

We Are the Ones

3:40 min
4

Camouflage

3:34 min
5

The Lie / the Truth

2:56 min
6

Surrealist Composition With Your Face

3:32 min
7

Stagger Lee (Bonus Track)

3:06 min
8

Helicopter Lullaby

4:17 min
9

Neon Gray

3:24 min
10

Half-Life

5:53 min
11

Two-Way Mirror

4:21 min

About More

Jokingly referring to their sound as “graphicdesignercore” in the early days, Baltimore trio Double Dagger seem to now be accepting their place as simply a damn good punk band, a younger cousin to nearby D.C.’s early scene (Fugazi, Minor Threat). Yes, vocalist Nolen Strals (a graphic artist) sounds a bit like Ian McKaye, with a direct, insistent yelp that is utterly captivating, but his chemistry with bassist Bruce Willen (also a designer) and drummer Denny Bowen stirs up a fresh, energetic brew that is stunningly powerful without a guitar. The sound is stripped and clean, yet the edges around the bass lines — double-tracked, manipulated — feel gritty and worn and dangerous, the percussive assaults and Strals’ indignant yowling pummel any smooth spots into a pulp; dissonance and melody go hand in hand. Once you feel the visceral gut punch of “Vivre sans temps mort,” “No Allies,” or “The Lie/the Truth,” you’ll wonder what took so long for a Dischord/D.C. revival scene to start up: everything old is new again, and that’s something to celebrate when you’re talking about Double Dagger.