RECORD REVIEW: Charger – Charger (Pirates Press Records)

You’ve got to hand it to Rancid; when they’re not being one of the most successful punk bands on the planet, its component parts certainly know how to channel their creative energies into other projects.

Tim Armstrong and Lars Frederiksen have their own bands, as well as being respected producers,  and now it’s the turn of bassist Matt Freeman to show he can turn his hand to other things too.

He’s already had one side project, Devil’s Brigade, who released what appears to be a one-off album back in 2010.

Now he’s back with a new band, after teaming up late last year with drummer Jason Willer (from Jello Biafra’s Guantanamo School Of Medicine) and guitarist Andrew McGee to form Charger in the Bay Area of California.

Charger are the new band formed by Matt Freeman, bassist with punk legends Rancid.

This is their debut EP, available on 12in vinyl, CD, cassette and as a digital download, and despite weighing in at just 19 minutes, it’s a formidable record.

It’s a mix of fast hard rock, metal and punk, and I knew within 20 seconds of opener Crackdown, when the guitars kicked in, that I was going to like it.

Charger’s sound is clearly influenced by Metallica, Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden and a bit of Judas Priest, but one inevitable comparison stands out from the wonderful noise emanating from the speakers – Motorhead.

Freeman takes on main vocal duties, and his deep and raspy voice is like listening to Lemmy reincarnated.

There’s not a bad track among the seven here, and it’s hard to pick a favourite, though Victim, full of juicy riffs and with a hint of Ace Of Spades about it, probably shades it.

If you like your rock served hard and fast, you’ll love this record, and want to hear more of Charger. 9/10.

Gary Welford
gary.ipamusic@gmail.com
ipamusic.co.uk owner