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Album reviews Music

Death

Drag City and Netflix revived the career of Detroit proto-punks Death by respectively releasing their 1975 demos and making widely available the 2012 documentary A Band Called Death, which told the brothers’ formidably moving story pre- and post-bandleader David Hackney’s death. The trio hit on a raw, emotional, gritty new sound, but success failed to materialize until some 40 years later. 

N.E.W. is the remaining members’ – brothers Dannis and Bobby Hackney, plus guitarist Bobbie Duncan – first album of original music since the 70s. Although Dannis and Bobby never seemed fully committed to the hard rock direction of the original band (they’ve played in reggae group Lambsbread for much longer), here they give rock ‘n’ roll a good shot, a relief after hearing them play so much reggae in recent concerts. 

They also keep intact their strangely disjointed songwriting style and optimistic/existential lyrics. (Some of the songs were first started with David in the 70s.) The performances are energetic, and Bobby’s voice is in great shape. But a handful of tunes almost sink the ship, including Playtime (is it a children’s song?), the repetitive At The Station and the lyrically-too-on-the-nose Who Am I?

Top track: Relief

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