Band : Dead To Me
Album title : Wait For It
Label : Shield Recordings
Distributor : Bertus
Release date : Fall 2010
Release : (3-track) 7-inch single

I'm not sure when exactly this San Francisco based act was formed, but originally it was founded by former One Man Army's Jack Dalrymple (lead vocals & guitar) & Brandon Pollack (drums) with Western Addiction's Chicken (bass/ backing vocals) completing the band. Very early on however, Pollack was replaced by Chicken's cousin Ian Anderson, and only shortly after Nathan Grice joined the band on second guitar. In 2006 the band went off on a flying start with their debut album Cuban Ballerina, which was hailed by some critics as the best Punk Rock release ever.

Signed to Fat Wreck Chords, the release was followed by a shitload of shows all over the globe. In 2008 DTM recorded another batch of songs for the EP Little Brother, and after the release Dalrymple decided to temporary give up music in order to focus on raising his newborn child. No panic, as Grice simply took over vocal duties in Jack's “absence”. As a trio DTM continued to play venues all over the US for a year, and in 2009 recorded the band's sophomore album African Elephants. Hey, nów was the time to panic, because shortly after the release of the album Grice also left the band...and that could well have been the end of DTM! However, Chicken and Anderson persevered, and “reformed” by recruiting 2 new guitarists: Sam Johnson (of VRGNS, No Friends, and New Mexican Disaster Squad) and Kenny Yamazaki (from Western Addiction and Enemy You).

The 3-track Wait For It is the first release of this new line-up, and comparing the new tracks with those posted at myspace.com/deadtomesf, I'd say the change was only for the better. I mean, the perfect blend of '78 Punk with contemporary Melodic Punk Rock is simply uncanny! Well, it's certainly catchy to the highest degree, and any music lover not falling in love with what the guys bring here must be a stubborn Punk Rock hater! Still, if you've read on thus far, it means your interest was already awoken, so now go check out the band's music, alright!? P.S.: As you can gather from the caption, this is to be a vinyl release, with Shield distributing the single in Europe, and Brick Gun Records doin' the same in the US.

98/100

Tony.