Milquetoast Premiere “Step Off”; Caterwaul Due out Jan. 7
Posted in audiObelisk, Whathaveyou on December 9th, 2021 by JJ Koczan
Indiana shenanigans-cannon heavy punks Milquetoast release their debut album, Caterwaul, on Jan. 28 through Wise Blood Records. And like much of what surrounds on songs such as “Space Force” or “Fake News” or even the earlier punk-into-sludge pummeler “Recognition,” the lead single “Step Off” is not without its purpose of statement. As frenetic as the Indianapolis trio’s fuzz might get — Andy Bowerman‘s bass is wielded as a weapon of mass destruction — from the moment their intro gives way to “Dead Inside,” their swaggering rawness is underscored by a hold-my-beer sense of chaos and an expressive mission in kind. They’re in and out of Caterwaul in just under 35 minutes, and in “Matapacos” and “Stoner Safari” it’s a blast of a party that ensues, their post-modern approach being to take the hell we’re all living in and make it dance.
They’re as heavy as they are punk, maybe a little bit of metal thrown in there on the thrashier end, and really, if you need a disclaimer about the social context of lyrics at this point — some kind of “they talk about politics but it’s okay” — grow up. I haven’t seen a lyric sheet or anything, but after the slow-motion decay that wraps “Stoner Safari,” the shift into the speedier push of “Step Off” — reportedly about unwanted physical contact — feels positively clearheaded without actually being so, and I don’t care where you were on Jan. 6, “Space Force” makes a better deathsludge tune than branch of the military, surfy solo included. Garage punk meets nodding noise riffery for “Fake News,” “The Wall” boasts the highlight line “Ignorance is bliss until you eat shit” while rocking in near-grunge mode, while closer “Forgotten Death” starts out like a goth sendup and spends its and the album’s final moments deconstructing itself around more rumbling bass and a winding progression of lead guitar leading to not-quite-last crashes in succession. Brutal, dudes.
They sound mean and all, but these guys would probably be friends with you and stuff if you wanted to hang out. Don’t take that as permission to grab or anything — “Step Off” is pretty straight-up on that point — but I’m just saying. Might be a good hang.
Album’s out next month, but you can dig “Step Off” right here and now, followed by the badass cover art and more info on the release courtesy of the PR wire.
Enjoy:
Milquetoast, “Step Off” track premiere
Pre-order link: https://milquetoastpunk.bandcamp.com/album/caterwaul
You only need a single unhinged howl from MILQUETOAST’s punked-up party sludge to get sucker-punched by the band name’s irony. The Indiana trio describe themselves as “Minutemen and Fu Manchu wearing Celtic Frost t-shirts,” or “a bunch of stoner doom metal nerds attempting to play punk.” From the deranged album art to the knockout mastering by Chris Fielding (of the mighty Conan), this is a singular barbaric yawp of fuzz and scuzz. Get loud and get weird with Milquetoast.
Mostly written during the pandemic and the last turbulent presidency, Caterwaul’s lyrical focus is a snapshot of political incompetence and social decay. Despite grim subjects ripped from the headlines, Milquetoast laugh through the absurdity. The cover art by Ellie Shvaiko captures that dichotomy of grimy heaviness and pastel-pink levity. The recording was tracked by band ally Tucker Thomasson of Throne of Iron in one insane day to achieve fast ‘n’ loose performances true to the band’s manic stage energy. Because at the end of the day, Milquetoast is first and foremost about the live spectacle.
Vocalist/guitarist Ty Winslow on “Step Off”:
“The lyrics were inspired by a Space Ghost Coast to Coast character, Brak. But the idea is pretty straightforward. I thought about anecdotes that I’ve heard from friends, mostly femmes and some masc, about unwanted and unwarranted touching from strangers. Like grabbing someone’s arm to look at their tattoos or touching the small of a woman’s back when walking by them. The music was inspired by modern garage rock, such as Ty Segall. Nick and Andy got involved with the outro and molded it from basically one riff into the manic clusterfuck it has become.”
“Our approach to live shows is all about having fun,” Winslow confirms. “Fans can expect over-the-top outfits, some light-hearted razzing of the other bands, and loud rock ‘n’ roll.”
Once Covid stops being such a menace, Milquetoast may troll a town near you. Until then, Wise Blood Records will release “Caterwaul” on January 28th, 2022. Get weird. Get wild. Get ready for Milquetoast.
1) Intro (00:00)
2) Dead Inside (00:32)
3) Recognition (03:07)
4) Matapacos (07:34)
5) Stoner Safari (10:15)
6) Step Off (15:06)
7) Space Force (18:44)
8) Fake News (23:10)
9: The Wall (26:29)
10) Forgotten Death (29:55)
Recorded and Mixed by Tucker Thomasson (Throne of Iron)
Mastered by Chris Fielding (Conan)
Album artwork by Ellie Shvaiko (illustrator of the Wise Blood logo)
Milquetoast is:
Ty Winslow – Vocals, Guitar
Andy Bowerman – Vocals, Bass
Nick James – Drums
https://www.facebook.com/milquetoastpunk
https://milquetoastpunk.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wisebloodrecs/
https://www.instagram.com/wisebloodrecords
https://wisebloodrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.wisebloodrecords.com/
