Bat Fangs Channel ’80s Nostalgia
There is something infectious about the ‘80s tropes and stereotypes surrounding the decade’s iconic music. The hard rock, hair metal songs that are poked fun of today were successful for a reason. Bat Fangs debut album, Bat Fangs, emphasizes the fun hooks associated with the ‘80s.
This duo, consisting of guitarist and singer Betsy Wright and drummer Laura King, channel some classic rock female bands like Heart in their catchy and hooky rock that channels a punk attitude in its ‘80s spirit, while staying modern like Sheer Mag. Even the album art shadows this girl power classic rock, with a pink spin on the Batman logo. “Turn It Up” is the perfect opener because it exemplifies everything that makes Bat Fangs, well, Bat Fangs. It has soulful vocals from Wright with a catchy guitar riff and chorus that is sure to stay on a listener’s radar.
Everything within “Turn it Up” is prominent through the entirety of Bat Fangs, but that doesn’t mean it ever tires. The catchy riffs showcased on songs like “Bad Astrology” and “Wolfbite” may sound similar, but as a listener, they are still sonically appealing in their ‘80s bubble. “Boys of Summer” is not a Don Henley cover, but it does have that summer on the beach vibe that is followed by “Static,” which can feel like surf rock at times.
“Mercury” is the real outlier on the album. It slows down the classic rock riffs for a more well-paced track, with a nice contrast between the variety the bass line brings and the guitar work from Wright.
The issues with Bat Fangs lies in its repetitive nature. None of the tracks really differ from the formula, but if you do enjoy the first track and it doesn’t tire on you, then you’ll enjoy the rest of the album all the same. If Bat Fangs were to explore a little past their bubble, they can probably shadow something really special, but for now, their self-titled debut album is enough to get rock fans to take notice.
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