Review / 200 Words Or Less
Night Birds
Maimed for the Masses

For how active a band Night Birds is, they still only have one studio full-length to their name. Instead of releasing the long-players, the band has focused on short-form EPs and Maimed for the Masses, on Fat Wreck Chords, is yet another to add to the band’s discography. This one has four songs, notably the opening title track. It doesn’t show any change in direction for the group, though the previously underlying surf influence has fully moved to the surface in the final track, the instrumental “Boat Trash” and with the drumming in “Last Gasp.” Giving a rough estimate, it’s ten minutes of ‘80s fuelled California hardcore with a strong ear for blending the big riffs with hooky chords. Brian Gorsegner’s quick-delivery vocals run along with the up-tempo songs, keeping pace without stopping to breathe. The title track and “Last Gasp” are the strongest songs, each starting a side of the vinyl. “Last Gasp” pulls in some unison vocals, but they aren’t gang vocals as much as exclamation points. With a big surf lick rolling the song along, it adds a haunted sense of melody to the band’s already manic sound. Overall here the surf has been dialed up a notch and it works.