Nothing To Fear

With a name like The Casket Lottery, you’d expect the band to be some of the most extreme metal out there. But the Kansas City quintet won’t be bogged down by such conventions, pairing an ominous name with some of the catchiest hard indie rock on the planet. The band’s fifth full length, Real Fear, is a wonderful blend of heavy rock and memorable pop, and a few other genres tossed in for good measure, creating a unique and enjoyable experience.

Opener “Blood On The Handle” is a throwaway burst of driving punk, and the record truly “begins” with “In The Branches,” a chunky, brooding piece, complete with distant vocals and haunting, ethereal piano. “The Moon And The Tide” is a mid-tempo, synth-inflected rocker, while “Poor Dorian” would fit right in on a Jesus Lizard record, with its angular guitars, in-your-face bass, and thought-provoking lyrics. “Ghost Whiskey” is the standout track here, the punk-meets-reggae bass line blending perfectly with textural guitars and almost absent vocals. “The Door” mixes a loping, funky feel with an atmosphere of Georgia sludge, while “Radiation Bells” features phased-out guitars and triumphant, harmonized vocals with a dash of ’90s alterna-rock, before the danceable verses and gloomy chorus strains of the title track bring the album to a close.

Real Fear is one of the records that seem to have something to satisfy every listener, from pop-punk to post-metal, from alt-rock to sludge-rock, and everything in between. As such, it’s one of those records that EVERYONE should at least give one spin. There’s a very good chance that, no matter what your taste in music, you’ll find something to love about The Casket Lottery and Real Fear. Unless, of course, you came looking for extreme metal.