3 out of 5

Label: Subversive Workshop

Producer: Adam Vincent, Lynn Bridges, Jamie Uertz

Well, it’s one year later than the excellent ‘Devil’s Chordbook’ and Saragashum have… lost some pummel.  I’m not quite sure what clicked so well with the previous EP, as it’s non-stop attack wasn’t so dissimilar from ‘Voluntary Human,’ but there was just an extra dash of fun as well as a tad bit of restraint kicking around that balanced the mood out enough to keep it trucking along at high gear.  This collection of songs still rocks, but it’s much closer to Breadwinner this time around, meaning they just don’t know when to quit and the songs don’t bridge into something other, sticking to one or two variations on a theme per song.  The first track is probably the best, getting off to a rocking start and nabbing some mileage from a good stop-start thang, but nothing really takes shape, and you arrive at the wickedly fascinating sample that ends the album not really realizing you’ve switched tracks.

At any given point you’re tapping your toe, you’re bobbing your head – these are slick riffs, they are played super well, and there’s no denying the sweat ‘neath the armpits of the trio as they do their instrumental thing.  Yet, it all lacks definition.  Some great big riff that seems like it could be around the bend never gets the chance to arrive.