Deez Nuts Word Is Bond Review

DEEZ NUTS

Word Is Bond

Century Media Records

Review by hutch

If you love hardcore for the sake of hardcore, as I do, Deez Nuts deliver an incredible album. For fans of bands like Skare Tactic, Donnybrook, Terror, Madball, this is the jam. Admittedly, when I first heard of these dudes, I thought the name was laughable. But for whatever it triggers in you, as immature as it may seem, this is serious hardcore. Founder and vocalist, Peters, JJ addresses this in “Pour Up” with a bold declaration, “never let the man hold you down, never grow up”.

This is Peters’ fourth full length for DN; plus they’ve had EPs. Deez Nuts is a relentless tour machine. That synergy has fused a tight bond and energy between the band members. Many ex-members of bigger bands have played for Peters, now he has Matt Rogers, guitar; Sean Kennedy, bass (like Peters, an ex-IKTPQ); Alex Salinger, drums. Production was handled by Andrew Neufeld (Comeback Kid) and Shane Frisby (Bury Your Dead, The Ghost Inside). And while those aren’t bands that I associate with DN’s type of hardcore, they handled the job marvelously. Deez Nuts sound better than ever. There is a good thick crunch to Rogers’ riffs.

The Deez Nuts’ lyrics of past have been reviewed and explored as harnessing a ‘party vibe”. I can see where that would rile up there demographic. With the unabashed hip hop influence, older songs sound like a hardcore version of rap; check the “Make Money, Money!” chant from “I Hustle Everyday”. But here, the anger is more focused. The lyrics now hone in on self-reliance and unity among outsiders. And while these are common themea in the subculture of outcasts, it never gets old to me. Hardcore is often good at sniffing out posers. Deez Nuts have many guests in the past claiming the real. As someone who has the news fed through an IV and works a desk job; the constant stress of feeling depressed and inadequate needs a rebuttal.

Photo by Dennis Tesch

This is not some breakdown band on repeat. This is fast moving hardcore band with the beat not stuck in idle repeat, but drums moving forward. Punkier bass lines feed an energetic “Word Is Bond”. Moments of two step occur. But take a song like “What’s Good” and the whole track is almost a breakdown. Kung Fu kicks will be ravaging venues. While “What I Gotta Do” is a bullet train, with a swing.

Oddly enough from bands Deez Nuts associates with; there is no additional bass drops or auto-tune. Deez Nuts boast no clean singing parts. This is straight modern heavy hardcore. The energy and fire that Deez Nuts put forth relays vicious stamina. Songs of perseverance and fighting hard should get old fans swinging fists in the pit and new fans piling on.

RIYL: Terror, Trapped Under Ice, Rotting Out, Skarhead, (first) Your Demise, Stray From the Path, Malfunction