Night Birds – Maimed For The Masses 7”

In an effort to raise their profile before the release of their next full length, Born To Die In Suburbia, Brooklyn garage surf punk act Night Birds has released the brief EP Maimed For The Masses on Fat Wreck Chords.  Serving as a teaser, the four-track album features one single and three accompanying b-sides that didn’t make it on to the full release.

Kicking off with the single from which the 7” draws its name from, “Maimed For The Masses” encompasses the snotty pop-punk and garage grit of 80’s hardcore with a tight dose of surf rock.  Comparisons with looser renditions of The River Boat Gamblers and Dead To Me still hold strong. Guitarist Mike Hunchback plugs away during the verse like his life depends on it, turning out speedy hooks to pace Brian Gorsenger’s sloppy chorus jabs.  The catchiest of the four songs, the band replicates the addictive quality they’re known for.

A fun fact about Night Birds though is that the term b-side doesn’t equate with inferior output.  As last seen in the odds and ends compilation Fresh Kills Vol. 1, much of the band’s freest sounding work isn’t always their most conventional.  For instance, “Barred Out’s” breakneck pace and subsequent degradation into complete auditory anarchy by the end of its sub-two minute run time hits all the right notes by hammering wildly on all the wrong ones.  Chaos is order to Night Birds.  “Last Gasp” shuffles by as the least memorable of the bunch, but trailer hitches onto the lyric free, distortion-heavy “Boat Trash” with ease.  NoNight Birds album is complete without a heavy surf instrumental, so it’s hard to think of a more suitable way to play out the disc.

Night Birds offers four feisty reasons for fans to check out Born To Die In Suburbia when it hits later this year.  Until then, these nine minutes will just have to suffice.