American Fangs

Although American Fangs claim some grunge and post-grunge bands (Stone Temple Pilots, Foo Fighters, Incubus, Deftones, Chevelle) as influences, there’s also an underlying current of good old-fashioned punk rock resonating from this debut album. Right from the opening attack of “Riot Food,” frontman Gabriel Cavazos lets loose some punchy vocals over the meaty riffs of guitarists Nik Slimp and Beau Gobert. Throughout this album, some moments recall Rage Against the Machine's sociopolitical angst—that is, until American Fangs' knack for unforgettable melodies surfaces, usually in the choruses. The following “Le Kick” plays at just more than two and a half minutes, with Cavazos singing hyper-phrased verses over drums. When the guitars and bass click into the chorus, the song sprouts barbed pop hooks—the kind that latch onto your frontal lobe and stay in your head all day long. “Gimme Gimme” transfers those melodies into the guitars as Slimp and Gobert play sing-along notes that challenge Cavazos to one-up them (which he does with multitracked vocal harmonies).