Terrible Things
Terrible Things
[Universal Motown]

Fans of Hot Rod Circuit and Breaking Pangaea will be happy to know that their respective frontmen, Andy Jackson and Fred Mascherino, have partnered with former Coheed and Cambria drummer Josh Eppard to form a new band, Terrible Things. Judging by the band’s super-sized rock sound and major label deal, though, it looks like they have their sights set on a much bigger audience than their old fans. The songs on their self-titled debut boast high energy, big riffs and bigger choruses. The lyrics intertwine the themes of losing sleep, letting down the person you love, and a series of arson fires that ravaged Mascherino’s town in Pennsylvania.

Musically, the album finds the two singers combining the sounds of their past bands, and then rocking out harder than ever. The intro to the excellent Breaking Pangaea song “Lullaby” frames the album, and the song itself appears with the addition of a supercharged new chorus. “Up At Night” is another classic-sounding Mascherino gem, serving up a relentless series of memorable hooks and riffs. Jackson contributes the standout tracks “Wrap Me Up” and “Not Alone,” which deliver a heavier version of the Hot Rod Circuit sound and remind us what a compelling vocalist he is; part of the chorus from HRC’s “Get What You Get” also gets re-purposed on the mid-tempo rocker “The Hills of Birmingham,” another highlight. Mascherino spent the past few years playing guitar in Taking Back Sunday, and the anthemic, angst-filled TBS sound leaves its mark on “Revolution” and “Terrible Things.”

It might take some time for Terrible Things to fully establish its own sound rather than a collage of its’ members past bands, and to get back on track with consistently writing songs as good as “Lullaby” instead of just recycling them. For now, it’s clear that these guys are thrilled to be rocking again, and they offer plenty of hits for when you’re in the mood to rock out and sing along with abandon.

Find it at: Amazon | Insound | eMusic

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