The Wrongmen - Self Titled 7"
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:54 pm

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THE WRONGMEN’s 2006 debut full-length, 'Den of Vipers' was certainly an anomaly amongst New Zealand’s punk and metal releases of the year. The Auckland group produced an EP that is almost peerless in the country – combining elements of both modern and mature influences to produce a furiously original record that is partnered only by the equally intense live show. The record showcased an almost vintage layering of dense coatings of distorted guitar and guttural bass over the frantic beating of drums, with vocals mixed instrumentally into the beat.

This 7”, however, is certainly not more of the same. When opener “So Wrong” finally hits, be prepared for the band at their most chaotic yet; spiraling in and out of pure frenzy before fluently sliding into their trademark stoner-rock influenced riffs. “Sprayed” gives another side altogether of the band, mixing memorable and melodic guitar and bass lines with a ferocious d-beat backbone that brings to mind bands like The Holy Mountain and Tragedy. The b-side is a cover of The Stooges’ “1970”, but you’d be forgiven for not hearing this through the distortion and darkness that The Wrongmen add to the punk classic. The track is certainly not a run-of-the-mill cover and it exists as a work of its own.

All in all, the nightmarishly hallucinogenic artwork hides a depth of maturity that sees The Wrongmen moving effortlessly from fury to sedation and back; topped with saxophone and organ playing by Tom Anderson of The Poisoners.

Oh, and this is of course a 7” record, just the way this music should be heard.

Ordering Information:

Action Man Records releases are distributed nationwide by Rhythmethod, which means that you can order them through any outlet - if they don't have it on the shelf just ask for them to get it in through Rhythmethod.