Wood Chickens: Mall Cop 7"


Those who have witnessed the Wood Chickens perform their craft knows duly well that these boys are at the ever-ready to raise some good old fashioned Hell. From humble beginnings tearing apart Mickey’s Tavern, Wood Chickens have advanced their home-brewed western-style skater punk, fused with a bluesy, gritty dirt ‘n roll. Mall Cop, the newest single release from Madison’s rambunctious renegades, is nothing short of pure vitriol—and supplies ample evidence of their evolution.
At the onset of Mall Cop, it is apparent from the thick, funky bass grooves that stylishly ripe new directions are in bloom, all at the mastery of Griffin Pett (Dumb Vision). Everything clicks into high gear when the rockabilly guitar, delivered by guitarist Alex Wiley (The Minotaurs, Alex Wiley Coyote) begins to coalesce into a high-octane, vintage punk frenzy. Intense rhythm is brought forth with thunderous glory. What follows the steady, succinct vocals of the verse is a completely unpredictable 60s psychedelic-infused solo that puts the rhythm section in hyperspeed, cranking out a dense barrage of heavy speed-punk. They are fully ready to throw a crowd into a maelstrom of their own making and they know it.
On the flipside, Eat The Leech explodes into colorful, mellow hues of surf rock. It is only a matter of seconds before the crowd, dancing and thrashing, whirls into climax. They are now fully immersed in a steady bombardment reminiscent of old-school Dead Kennedys' pummeling antics. Without abandoning the sharp edge of Black Flag and Ramones style velocity, Wood Chickens manage to break through unseen barriers by infusing the sunshine of surf rock. With such a rapidfire and explosive vocal lines, it is surprising to hear a 50s-era Chuck Berry guitar tone. With so much energy tearing apart the audience, it is perfectly clear how much Wood Chickens enjoy stirring up while delivering shrapnel-charged country punk. You can order the single and download here, the upcoming album, Well Done!, where Mall Cop will be featured, from Big Neck Records here, or support the band on their upcoming tour dates listed on their bandcamp website here!

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