Star & Dagger – Tomorrowland Blues

Two-thirds of Star & Dagger's membership (White Zombie's Sean Yseult, Dava She Wolf from Cycle Sluts from Hell) should give budding listeners some idea of what to expect from their new project featuring vocalist Von Hesseling. Opener In My Blood features low-end guitar grooves, high-pitched instrumental wails and bluesy solos. Hesseling's vocals are strong and commanding; her presence helps to fully form the image the band presumably wishes to project - bad-ass rock 'n roll built for late nights in dive bars.

 

Sleazy vibes are repeatedly driven home, though there's the occasional surprise moment: the title track contains brief flashes of melancholia, and Selling All Things slows down the tempo and thickens up the tones for some retro-doom worship à la Electric Wizard. These switch-ups are well-timed, appearing just as the same old tropes begin to get monotonous. A fun novelty piece built for those about to rock. [Ross Watson]