Serious teenage rock from the Northwest, the Catheters combine the lean, sledgehammer attack of the New Bomb Turks with the visual charm of an all-boy version of the Runaways, pouring through ten blazing tracks on this self-titled debut. They may be emulating bands that broke up before they were born (Pagans, Saints, Dead Boys) but regardless of what the Catheters have in their record collections, they lay down loud, no-lies punk rock roll with the purity of their inspirations. The Catheters are all business here, biting into the riffs without hesitation and heading straight for the heart of the song every time. The band is confident and strong, balancing perfectly between chaos and control and not afraid to explore the power of a midtempo stomp. Lead howler Brian Standeford throws himself into the fray with real abandon, peppering the proceedings with well-timed exclamations of "WELL, ALL RIOT!" and "ROCK AN' ROWLL!" Most of the tracks are ecstatic devotions to the medium of their expression itself, anthem after anthem to living loose and free at 18 with rock roll as the center of the world. The Catheters avoid the exaggerated hedonism of their peers, though the irresistible Teenage Trash makes a convincing case for self-destruction. Other highlights include the high-octane Got No Reason and the massive, sneering Kids Know How to Rock. After the release of this album, the band replaced its rhythm section and trimmed the lineup to a classic four-piece, signing with Seattle starmakers Sub Pop and recording the followup, Static Delusions and Stone-Still Days. This opening salvo is recommended for those with energy to burn. ~ Fred Beldin, Rovi

1		Never Look Back
2		Back in the Game
3		Those Nights Are Gone
4		Treat Me Like You Should
5		Do What I Want
6		Teenage Trash
7		Restless Eyes
8		Got No Reason
9		Ain't So Bad
10		The Kids Know How to Rock

	Like us on Facebook
	@SoundHound	Follow