Resurrectionists - Double EP

Resurrectionists from Milwaukee, Wisconsin formed in 2018 with Joe Cannon - Guitar/Banjo/Vocals and Jeff Brueggeman - Bass/Backing Vocals emerging from the ashes of Punk band WORK. Joining them are Josh Barto – Drums and Gian Pogilano - 6 & 12 String Guitars/Mellotron/Acoustic & Electric Pianos/Fender Bass VI/Out of Tune Zither/Long Plastic Tube.

Prior works include 2019’s Demo Rough, 2019’s What Comes In, 2023’s Now That We Are All Ghosts and last year’s Any Time You Make a Place for Them EP. The latter EP is featured here alongside a previously unreleased EP Ok, Let’s Play King and its these which make up the Double EP set. Coming from a city which brought us Die Kreuzen, Violent Femmes, and Plasticland is impressive in itself, what sealed the deal for reviewing purposes was the band’s involvement with Seismic Wave, run by the uber talented Conan Neutron.

Though Any Time You Make a Place for Them is purportedly the heavier of the album’s two EP’s you shouldn’t start expecting Celtic Frost. Instead ‘Ditch Gospel’ demonstrates a tension common with Fugazi whose Ian McKaye style Vocal intonations and angular tautness threaten sonic violence with every passing note and for which we should be exceptionally grateful. ‘Jokers and Their Jokes’ from the off recalls The Jesus Lizard with its wild manic energy, unpredictable nature and southern preacher vibes evoke David Yow and co. Possibly the best song that band never wrote and one which would have slotted in nicely on any of Amphetamine Reptile’s legendary Dope-Guns-'n-Fucking in the Streets compilations, its that good. ‘Make a Place For Them’ has a bluesy swing, not overly dissimilar to Mule and PW Long’s solo output. They call it Punk-Blues and while there are hints of that genre there are also nods to Shellac too during some of the more abrasive moments, impressive. ‘Hey Man’ takes more of a winding Math-Rock path but thankfully not of the type that sends you into a coma, likely because Resurrectionists remember to add things called hooks and melody to the mix. This will appeal to fans of Dazzling Killmen legend Nick Sakes other band Upright Forms, superb.

The ‘softer’ or ‘quieter’ of the two EPs Ok, Let’s Play King is up next, with ‘All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Run To’ opening up proceedings. While its blatantly obvious that the band are hardly ragin’ full on (cue fIREHOSE reference) there is a brooding intensity which makes it such a delight to listen to, faded memories of listening to Thin White Rope during lonely winter nights and that band’s eerie Post-Punk Desert Rock vibes make this a certifiable favourite. ‘Let's Play King’ may start quietly with Americana/Alt-Country being liberally applied but as with the Meat Puppets (S/T, IIera) this is alternated with raging Hardcore Punk. This makes the music far more engagingespecially as someone who isn’t a big fan of the former, brilliantly effective. ‘Here Lies the Bottle’ is more of a traditional Country sounding track but one with its tongue firmly Planted in its cheek, it feels like a tribute and piss take of the genre, what with the theme of drinking being predominant. Pretty decent. ‘My Year of Magical Thinking’ continues in a similar vein to its predecessor but feels a little more varied than that track’s more ‘conventional’ hues. There’s a little more punch to the Country employed here and consequently serves as an ideal conclusion.

This was my first time with the band and it certainly won’t be my last. I was left impressed by the strength and variety of material on offer, recommended.