2 out of 5

Label: Firefly Recordings

Produced by: Handgun Bravado with Mike Lastra & David Stephenson

Punk rock without distinction.  That’s tough.

I came to HB hungry for anything that could add to the precious Marshes albums I have, and drummer Colin Sears ended up in this band.  Yeah, it’s a risky venture following a drummer to a group when he isn’t necessarily the focus (and Sears was actually in a ton of groups) but, y’know, I love the Marshes.  So this happened.

When you’re a three-chord act, you really need something that sets you apart.  Intense vocalists normally seal the deal, punctuated by especially speedy riffing from your guitars, bass, and drums.  Handgun Bravado do have the skills behind the instruments – Sears’ credibility stretches back to Dag Nasty, and vocalist / guitarist Arne Cherkoss and bassist Christian Harvey never have trouble keeping pace, or changing up the time signatures or styles at various moments.  Unfortunately, there’s just not a sense of build to most of the tracks, especially the punk standard attack that fills up the album; a riff plays us in, Arne starts singing, and the riff plays us out.  Although I appreciate that the lyrics aren’t just woe-is-me generics – and some of them form pretty effective attacks or tales – Cherkoss’ voice is so unremarkable that you tune out almost immediately.  Punk rock also has a tendency to get a really flat mix, and such is the case here.  So with a non-notable singer and structurally stagnant songs presented in an edges-cut-off mix, ‘These Days Move Fast’ turns way too easily into background.  When Arne talks instead of ‘sings’ and the group slows down into rock, some of the songs help to emphasize the lyrical cleverness and skill of the musicians – ‘Reader’ is an all-around excellent track – or sometimes the Handgun will knock out something short and to the point like ‘Canceled Out’ that’s willing to drop the guitar for a couple moments to help punctuate the bass and drums…  But, yes, my ears had to learn to hear these things after several listens.  Otherwise, there’s not much here to grab genre fans on a first pass.