With a hot-off-the-Kinko’s-photocopier record cover, this limited release it a total DIY production, which had me looking forward to hearing it. Nothing beats a hungry band doing whatever it takes to get their shit out there, (well, unless they really aren’t any good…) SCARECROW’s “Earth is Dead” lived up to my anticipation.

After the piano/keyboard piece “Room 302” that begins the record, a bit of feedback and the blistering riffage on “Dead & Happy” signals the barn-burning classic punk onslaught that awaits the listener on this disc. The band keeps things fast, furious and fun (the four F’s I look for in this type of music,) but with a street-level sloppiness that is endearing and authentic. On the track “Dying World,” it sounds like everything could unravel and fall apart at any second, but the drummer known only as Samsam keeps it all together. He is the reincarnation of MOTORHEAD’s Philthy Animal Taylor. These guys aren’t about sacrifice energy or vibe for mechanical, razor sharp performances. Sloppy in all the right places, these cats are the real deal. In a nice conceptual move, “Room 303” closes the disc with some more piano moodiness. Cool!

With seven short tracks, ”Earth is Dead” never wears out its welcome. In fact, I wanted to hear more! With SCARECROW’s full length due out this summer, I won’t have long to wait.

- Broadbent

OFFICIAL SITE: www.scarecrow.rocks.it

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Dead and Happy

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