"I feel the rattle/shakin' in my teeth," sings
Honey
's
Dan Wise
on
Love Is Hard
, and his listeners should know the feeling: the band's mix of garage, psych, and punk delivers noise and attitude in equal -- and copious -- amounts. The ferocious album opener, "Monk," is one of 2016's most unrelenting rock songs, simmering with impatience that boils over in its choruses and showing why comparisons to bands like
the Mirrors
and
the Dead Boys
are warranted.
put their own spin on this sound, however, streamlining these influences into something modern: there are no spare notes or fills to hinder their momentum. While "Monk" is
's finest moment, the rest of the album reveals that
has more range than might be expected. Raucous songs like "Taking a Ride," "Born," and "MFLH" hew closer to traditional garage punk, but the sheer energy of the band's performances makes them more than homages; elsewhere, the dark and droning "Comes Down" leans into stoner rock and
Spacemen 3
. Still,
's best moments harness
's power to more structured songwriting, as on "White City" and the thrashy "White Noise." Revved-up songs like these are addictive, helping to make
a strong debut that leaves listeners wanting more. ~ Heather Phares