Angel Du$t began in 2013 as a side project of Trapped Under Ice’s Justice Tripp that explored musical styles far beyond the usual hardcore elements of his main band, but over the years it has taken a life of its own and experienced a similar popularity surge as fellow Baltimore artists Turnstile. Where Angel Du$t initially had more of a melodic hardcore slant, each of their albums has expanded outwards towards pop punk, alternative rock, and everything in between. 2023’s BRAND NEW SOUL felt like it was trying to experiment a bit more with psychedelic textures while hopping between more up-tempo rock ‘n roll/punk and softer textures. Since the release of that effort Angel Du$t went through some lineup changes with new drummer Nick Lewis and guitarist Jim Caroll joining the fold, and as a result follow-up COLD 2 THE TOUCH has shifted things around again. It’s the group’s most forwardly aggressive and hardcore leaning effort since their earlier days but retains the alternative hooks and catchier writing of the more recent albums.
At just under half an hour in length COLD 2 THE TOUCH flies by quick, but the band uses this more compact run to cram in a good amount of variety and standout hooks. Opener “Pain Is A Must” makes it clear that the hardcore punk is back in a big way this time, as compared to the breezier psychedelic leanings of BRAND NEW SOUL’s title track this one comes in like a wrecking ball with more aggressive riffing but still plenty of that rock ‘n roll spirit. But even when the tracks head towards a melodic hardcore of traditional hardcore direction, the alternative and pop elements are woven in seamlessly. “I’m The Outside” is a great example, as it has some heavier elements but the rhythms are bouncier and there are some moments that remind me of a more punk oriented 311. On the other end of the spectrum are songs like “Jesus Head”, where the distortion is peeled away in favor of breezier melodies and a bouncier alternative rock vibe. Compared to the previous album these softer tones flow even more seamlessly, and the contrast between the aggressive and laid-back instrumentation really makes COLD 2 THE TOUCH stand out. It also helps that along with there is hook after hook over the course of the album, which has made a lot of the material stick with me over repeat listens.
Justice Tripp’s singing has been a major component of what gave Angel Du$t quite a bit of appeal over the years, as he has an airier and mellow pitch that wouldn’t feel out of place in a slew of 90s alternative bands. It’s the type of singing that’s laid back but still has a lot of power and finds ways to hook you, and the way that Tripp hovers slightly above the instrumentals really makes the performance stand out more. To reinforce some of the shifts back towards hardcore, there are a slew of guests that contribute some screams and yells including Scott Vogel (Terror), Wes Eisold (American Nightmare), Patrick Cozens (Restraining Order), Frank Carter (Gallows), and Taylor Young (Twitching Tongues). What I like about all these guest spots is they complement Tripp’s work perfectly and are incorporated in a way that doesn’t feel like the material was written only for their contribution.
On their latest album, Angel Du$t returns to their hardcore roots while keeping a lot of the alternative and pop elements that defined other parts of their discography. The writing feels a bit more stripped down, emphasizing quick bursts of ideas and plenty of hooks, but this compact approach works in their favor and gives listeners songs that have plenty of staying power without getting repetitive. It’s still hard to pin them down into one particular area, but whether you like high energy rock ‘n roll, punk, 90s alternative, or anything in between, Angel Du$t’s latestis likely to be an album you’ll be listening to for quite some time to come. COLD 2 THE TOUCH is available from Run For Cover Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg