Brass Castle

Despite being only a duo, Brass Castle’s Chris Strawn and Christian Gordy manage to make a consistently raucous sound that beats the lunch money out of stereo speakers. With the two musicians rotating on guitar and drums, Brass Castle blast out tunes that merge Southern-fried blues music with low-tuned, sludge rock. Their self-titled sophomore disc features a variety of tightly wound tunes with quick shifting rhythms and full tilt vocal howling. While the two-instrument line-up creates somewhat of a limited scope, the duo have the good sense to keep songs short, moving fast on to the next idea before anything grows stale. While at times they may sound like hyperactive hillbillies, Brass Castle deliver many sturdy sounds on this disc.