Sweat are a Los Angeles trio composed of guitarist/vocalist Justin Smith, drummer Anthony Rivera, and frontwoman Tuna Tardugno who handles both the band’s vocals and album artwork.
To date, the band have released 2020’s S/T EP, 2022’s Gotta Give It Up debut full-length, a cool cover of Thin Lizzy‘s “Killer on the Loose”, and last year’s split with San Diego’s Negative Blast. Given the high quality of previous efforts, it’ll be interesting to see whether sophomore album Love Child measures up by comparison.
The omens are good with “Commercial Pleasure” which starts off at a blistering pace with the kind of thrash attack that Metallica once pulled off effortlessly. Sweat has always had a heavy rock ‘n roll element to their sound. There is a Bon Scott era AC/DC swagger present with parts recalling legendary tracks such as “Let There Be Rock”. It’s an exceptionally strong start to the album.
After the intensity of the opener, it was perhaps inevitable that “Give Me Action” would be a tad slower, though it is no less in terms of power. There are moments that seem to nod to The Wipers and tracks such as “Messenger”, the unabashed delicious sloppiness of early Replacements and the spirit of vintage Johnny Thunders. “Pair of Dice” picks up the pace again with tight instrumental work and killer breakdowns that most bands would positively kill for; a definite streetwise stripped down NYHC vibe going on, killer is all that can be said.
“Pure Display” starts off as pretty solid mid tempo hardcore but it’s the end portion of the track which truly elevates it into greatness with a catchy singalong section of which Oi legends such as Blitz would be proud. Sublime. “White Nectarines” ranks among the most melodic sounding number in the band’s catalogue to date that showcases their Thin Lizzy influences, perhaps even a little Wishbone Ash thrown in for good measure.
“Bad Taste” continues the band’s take on melodic hard rock as established by the preceding track as well as featuring some nice unforeseen tempo changes that offer an experimental edge. Make no mistake, this is hardly Van Der Graff Generator territory, but it does demonstrate the band is willing to change things up a bit to lend some welcome variety to proceedings. “Love Child” employs a Rollins Band and latter day Black Flag post-hardcore sound and in places one can even sense a slight glam tinge present too, albeit one that is tastefully handled.
“Physical” feels lifted straight from catchy late seventies power-pop a la Cheap Trick and is incredibly catchy. To Sweat’s eternal credit, they’ve managed to concoct such a track while as far as “A Real Good Time” is concerned, it can’t be entirely coincidental that Tuna is sporting a Motörhead T-Shirt in one of the band’s live music videos. Pepper in a little of The Obsessed‘s “Lifer City” and bingo, a bonafide doomy biker metal classic. “Predisposed Paranoia” packs plenty of attitude reminiscent of The Runaways and “Bad Reputation” era Blackhearts making for, what is, a kickass conclusion to the album.
It’s clear that with Love Child, Sweat have taken a few musical risks, all of which have paid off. In a world of generic post Hatebreed clones, an intoxicating, exciting album such as this is more than welcome and everything you could want from a present day Hardcore outfit.
Buy the album here:
https://vitriolrecords.bandcamp.com/album/love-child
9 / 10
REZA MILLS