Band : Flat Tires
Album title : Freeborn
Label : Rusty Knuckles
Distributor : Rusty Knuckles
Release date : 03/03/2011
Release : CD

Another band with a shadowy past. All I know is that the quartet composed of lead singer Clint Harrison, guitarist Bryon Smallwood, bassist Scott Cline, and drummer Jeremy Godfrey is from Hickory, North Carolina, been around for some 5 years, and in that time brought their acidic take on classic Rock 'n' Roll (I kid you not!) to countless bars and music venues from NY City to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, been labeled “Devil Worshipers”, broken up marriages, witnessed numerous stabbings and shootings, played through and/ or been the cause of countless barroom brawls (with the occasional banning from certain venues as a result), and received numerous injuries including (but not limited to) broken teeth and facial lacerations from flying beer projectiles.

Along the way the guys have had the opportunity to play on the same stages as Gwar, Murphy's Law, Wayne The Train Hancock, C.J. Ramone, Antiseen (whose Phil Keller took an immediate shining to the NC band), D.I., 9 Pound Hammer, Agent Orange, D.O.A., Youth Brigade, Joe Buck Yourself, Murder Junkies, Green Jelly, Meat Puppets, Cranck County Devils, Agression, McRad, and countless others. They also found time in between their busy playing schedule to record several releases, including a demo, split 7-inches with Joe Buck and Asound, and two full-length album (debut 8-track album Payin' Dues Again, and sophomore 11-track album All The Right Enemies). Music by the band also made it to no less than 5 compilation albums.

“Acidic Rock 'n' Roll”...that's somewhat of a general description, innit? Well, that's still the best way to put things. Although the guys emulate a somewhat proto-AC/DC like sound with the album opening “GD Woman”, both music and vocals on the other 10 songs are of a more vicious and in-you-face mode (the “...kiss my dirty white ass...” line during “Carolina Shitstomp” definitely the most offensive one in the bunch). Occasionally the band sounds só classically Rock 'n' Roll (check “Don't Shake Me Lucifer” and even “Trailer Daze” and album closer “Rock & Roll Weekend”) it's hard to believe they're a contemporary band, in spite of the vicious touch they give the tracks. To listen to some of the band's music (none off the new album, I'm afraid), check what's posted at (www.) myspace.com/theflattires. If you're into the kind of Dirty Rock from the likes of Antiseen, you're probably gonna love this too!

87/100

Tony.