The Dead Ships – Citycide

It’s been three years years since Los Angeles garage rock trio The Dead Ships formed and Citycide is their debut full length. The release of Citycide follows a relentless touring schedule and the release of numerous EP’s, in this time the howling garage rock trio claim to have toured the shadiest parts of the continent, and slept on the grimiest of couches. The result of their endeavours is a growing reputation as a live act and numerous accolades for their incendiary live performances.

From the opening chords of Citycide I can tell we’re in for a healthy dose of contemporary garage, their style originates from the bands that populated the legendary Pebbles compilations, but this is no throwback to the sixties as The Dead Ships sound is augmented with later influences, notably indie, punk rock and the garage rock revival of the early 2000’s, that bands like The Hives pioneered. The Dead Ships switch the tone and pace of the album constantly throughout Citycide, from the laid back bluesy style of the opening number, Company Line, through to the frantic punk energy of Los Feliz, to the haunting, and appropriately titled, Séance, The Dead Ships never once settle into a comfortable rut. There are big reverb heavy guitar riffs that are littered all over this album and The Dead Ships possess that confident swagger that all great garage bands have about them. Stylistically they have echoes of Swedish garage rock legends Mando Diao, they are no carbon copy of that fine band but there are distinct parallels in their approach, attitude and vocal delivery.

This is a damn fine album which contains twelve solid tracks of contemporary garage influenced rock ‘n roll, if I had to fault it I’d say that there isn’t an obvious single or stand out track on Citycide but that’s a minor quibble given their isn’t weak track on Citycide. The Dead Ships have produced a solid debut album in Citycide, this is an album that denizens of the garage rock scene will adore and it should only cement the reputation The Dead Ships have built over the last three years.

Citycide can be ordered here