Small Doses

Reviews

Small Doses Rodeo EP

Pretty nifty record here with plenty of nuances, combining pieces of orgcore (melodic vocals paired with power-chord-driven punk songs à la BAD RELIGION and LAGWAGON) with post-hardcore (dissonant chords, slower tempos, and throaty screams that reminds me a lot of POLAR BEAR CLUB if they had embraced more of the Dischord style). I guess you can call this post-orgcore (although I’m not even sure if that term is in vogue anymore). Well-crafted tracks that do a great job telling a narrative—both musically and lyrically—that never once gets boring. Great work here. As far as punk goes, this is as perfect of an EP as you’ll get.

Small Doses Small Doses LP

Debut LP from Asheville, NC-based SMALL DOSES. Seeing Asheville on their Bandcamp page, I assumed I was going to get some peace punk or zany hippie-cult thing, but rather found something closer to the turn-of-the-century RVA sound; ANN BERETTA comes to mind. Founders Matt and John, formerly of DAWN OF THE DUDE and OFF WITH THEIR HEADS, reunited after a 30-year hiatus, coming together with bassist Crystal of ZOMBIE QUEEN to form this powerful trio. Pretty straightforward punk/post-hardcore at work, with lots of palm mutes, pinch harmonics, bass that’s hooked into tom-pounding drums, and higher-register, near-gruff vocals. It feels like SMALL DOSES would be right at home on any of the early Warped Tour bills. Solid eight-track debut, with writing already started on their next album.