There isn’t a lot of information out there about Brooklyn based Gun Boat, as while their Bandcamp page may list the names of their members and their Instagram profile has a few scattered photos, that’s about all listeners who may stumble upon their music have to go on. But letting your music do the talking has worked for plenty of groups over the decades, and that’s definitely the case here. This year’s But The Machine Demands Blood follows Gun Boat’s self-titled effort from 2020 and finds them expanding upon their hardcore/punk foundation in some unexpected ways. Where the self-titled kept every song under two and a half minutes and went for that familiar mix of crunchier drums, jagged guitars, and raw vocals, this follow-up not only pushes the track lengths outwards but brings in some additional stylistic influences. It’s an approach that works well, as the combination of slightly longer, sprawling instrumentation and direct attacks gives the group a lot of moments that will stick with you for some time to come.
But The Machine Demands Blood comes out of the gate in strong fashion with “Sex Organs Of The Machine World”, which initially goes for a slower, lumbering groove that showcases the crunchiness of the drums and weight of the bass before kicking things over to a more up-tempo punk riff. It’s only about thirty seconds longer than any of the songs on the 2020 album, but there’s already a noticeable difference to the way the material shifts back and forth in tempo and rhythm. From there Gun Boat opts to go for a more direct offensive for a few tracks, hitting listeners with faster and aggressive instrumentation that blurs the lines between earlier punk and the foundations of hardcore/punk. Even during the more direct moments there are specific sections that jump out and grab your attention, but it’s not until “Cut Your Hand And I’ll Cut Mine” that the band reveals they have more up their sleeve for this release. It starts off with a mix of slow burning riffs and faster ones, but around the two-minute mark things expand outwards and both the drum work and guitar work shifts significantly. The remainder of the song explores hazier guitar work that has more of a psychedelic rock feel to it, bringing bands like Earthless and Nebula to mind. It’s a bit of a curveball but suits what Gun Boat is going for, and just as the sprawling atmosphere lulls you into a calmer state the quick burst of “Metamorphosis” reminds you this is very much still a punk album. But The Machine Demands Blood continues to branch out throughout its second half, as songs like “I Wanna Be Crucified” and “Motel” also shake things up. The former has a more driving, post punk style tempo but brings back the psychedelic and hazier elements while the latter has a fuzzier, bottom-heavy lurch that has hints of doom and stoner rock. These sonic explorations integrate well with Gun Boat’s core sound, and the balance between the slower, sprawled out moments and brisker ones works well while giving listeners plenty of sections that will stick with them. Plus, three of the songs throw saxophone into the mix, which is always a welcome addition to material of this type.
Justin Holm’s vocals fall somewhere between earlier punk and hardcore/punk, as they’re often sung/yelled but are still clear enough that you can easily make out what’s being said. There’s a lot of intensity behind each word and there’s a certain swagger to the performance that gives me equal amounts of punk and garage rock vibes. Sometimes Holm’s’ voice is soaked in reverb and other times he’s coming through more directly, which does help to shake things up a bit from song to song and avoid repetition. There’s a noticeable difference from track to track, as “I Wanna Be Crucified” goes for a slightly cleaner singing tone where Holm has some great back and forth with the saxophone but as things transition into “Catch A Wave” his approach gets much harsher and in your face. It’s small details like this that help Gun Boat further stand out, and the vocals add a consistently sharp edge no matter what the rest of the band is doing.
Gun Boat’s previous release tapped into the core of hardcore and punk’s roots, offering short songs with plenty of meat on them. Their latest effort expands outwards naturally, bringing in a few other genres along for the ride while retaining the same foundation. It’s an approach that works well, as both the shorter bursts and longer, slower burning tracks have elements that will make them stick with listeners. I’m not sure how well-known this group is outside of their home region, but they’re worth taking the time to check out. But The Machine Demands Blood is available from Melt City Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg