Choncy Trademark LP
Third release from Cincinnati’s CHONCY. Their angular approach, with clean, frenetic guitars (think D. Boon tone) and lightly distorted vocals, is at the forefront of this album. 2023’s Community Chest and 2024’s 20X Multiplier offered a wider range, with more full-belly guitar distortion and hardcore arrangements, but also plenty of the angularity and sharp rhythm changes that are evident on this release. If Trademark is a move towards honing their sound, I don’t mind. These songs are fast, catchy, and driving, if not a little needling with those piercing guitar riffs. The vocals are provocative in a comedic way, and the whole package reminds me of (a slightly less serious) STRAW MAN ARMY. Apparently, their members now split time between Cincinnati and New York, doing remote recordings and phone calls—but distance be damned! They’ve put out a solid record.