Colfax Speed Queen - Dirty Mirror

Colfax Speed Queen - Dirty Mirror

Self released - 2019

Garage rock, punk, surf

Rated: *****

Tearing out of the gate like a bat out of hell’s own basement party, Denver rockers Colfax Speed Queen bring the heat with a raucous mix of heavy garage rock, horror punk, and surf on their third LP Dirty Mirror. Built on a backbone of nonstop, rapid-fire drumming, the guitars buzz and crunch alongside eerie 80s synth to hammer home the band’s trademark frenetic, punkish energy and sly humor. Opening with the grinding and groovy “Buy It”, complemented by manic drum fills, the vocals are immediately shown to be one of Colfax Speed Queen’s key strengths. Reminiscent of All Them Witches in their deep resonance but with an added sneer, they spit venom with lines on commercialism and a quest to find some tasty hot sauce. The wry everyday humor runs throughout the album, a shining example of which is closer “Party’s Full”. After a tense and ominous buildup, hilarious and all too real tragedy strikes as the pursuit of some weekend lovin’ is thwarted by the bouncer’s cries of “party’s full, you can’t come in!” Alongside the excellent vocals, the guitars and synth sprint forward with relentless energy and more than a few curveballs, from the head bobbing bass and post punk feel of “Fuel Good”, to the growling surf riffs and squeals of instrumental “Spooky” and the whimsical ballad “Dreamers”. Another highlight, “667” is a driving instrumental of horror punk keys and pounding drums that demands to be played and terribly danced to in the sweatiest of bars. “Dirty Mirror” is a grimy, fun-loving shot of adrenaline that skillfully blends rock, punk, and surf into a sound that’ll have you grabbing the nearest cheap beer and joining the quest for a good time.

(Written by Kyle / Shastabeast)

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