Nice little split 7” here from Dead Tank that I’ve admittedly been sitting on way too long. Technically this is a 2014 release, although I don’t think it started hitting the shops until 2015. Rose Cross is really awesome. One of my favorite discoveries of this past year. They’ve been around for a while but I wasn’t acquainted with them until I heard this. They are out of Gainesville, and you can certainly detect that in their sound. But they also have a familiarity about them—especially in the vocals—that brings to mind bands like Foreign Objects, Daylight Robbery, and maybe even White Lung. “Barn Burner” is a garage-y punk number, while “Radio Silence” explores melodic post-punk territory. Even with just two short songs it’s easy to tell this band is capable of creating a diverse album should they ever go the LP route. And here’s hoping they do, as it would be a crime not to hear more of this.
Post Teens—also from Gainesville—takes up the other side with a couple of tracks. These guys have been around for a while now, sporadically releasing splits and 7”s when they can squeeze them in. Members play in other prominent bands like Torche, Asshole Parade and a bunch of others. I personally have not heard anything from them since their debut 2011 self-titled 7”, which was one of my favorites from that year. But it doesn’t sound like much has changed; pulse-pounding garage punk, ripe with catchy-ass melodies bursting from beneath the fuzz.
Packaging-wise, it’s another aesthetically pleasing piece from Dead Tank. The black and white photo of a people playing in a fire hydrant on the front is cool, giving off a pretty obvious summer in the city vibe. I really appreciate the effort this label puts into having good-looking tangible product.
