Can’t Hang

Blood Sweat & Beers

Riddim House Productions

(Can’t Hang MySpace)

After delivering two excellent EPs (Coast to Coast & Sound in Time) and one of the better sounding live albums I have ever heard (Live in Charm City), I was pretty excited when I was finally unwrapping the first full-length Can’t Hang album, Blood Sweat & Beers.

While the album may only feature 10 tracks, most rollercoaster through reggae, punk and rock all within the one song resulting in the album sounding truly epic. It’s certainly going to take me a few listens to really absorb all the intricate playing Can’t Hang has delivered here. Just listen to the opening track Close My Eyes for all the different styles and moods the band attacks. Not to let up, the following Trouble and Destruction Train are probably the most rocking songs the band has recorded to date. The punk elements are as tight and aggressive as hell, none of this Fall Out Boy pussy crap here.

It’s really only when you get to the last two tracks in Escape and Better By Tomorrow where the band lets things wind down a little and allow the proceedings take on a more gentler closer.

While long time Can’t Hang members Luke Mysko (vocals), Steve Lynch (guitars) and Rob Eisenhut (bass) continue to improve on past performances, it would be amiss of me not to give a specific mention on how creative the drumming is on this album. The duties are shared by producer Jerome Maffeo and Alex Crowley and the work alone on the intro to One Drop needs to be heard to be believed.

It is indeed satisfying when you follow a band for many years like I have with Can’t Hang, to see them grow and improve on each release. Blood Sweat & Beers is easily the band’s best work to date.

Reviewed by Pilipo

You can purchase Blood Sweat & Beers online here