The Distillers - Coral Fang (WEA)

The Distillers are a force which has been brewing for months in underground thrash punk circles, recently labelled a "fake" by many, Brody Dalle (vocals, guitar) has risen from the dark, gloomy depths of being called a "user" and a "wannabe" in a way which could definitely be described as pheonix-like. And here it is, the searing, rage-ridden masterpiece Coral Fang.

Brody's gravelly, desperate and roaring vocals give The Distillers that edge which most bands lack today, emotion, and even better, she's not some wussy, "I'll look pretty and sing to some crappy nu-metal track if you pay me lots of money" kinda girl, she's real, every lyric on every song is thought over, is straight from the soul. "Oh my heart it sings suicide," sums up everything that a person goes through from being a child to an adult, the transition, the heart-ache, the pain and sorrow at times, The Distillers captivate this in a single line. Andy Outbreak provides a masterfall set for the lyrics to act out on with his superb skill on the drums, without the power and overwhelming emotion Andy provides in his drumming, The Distillers would not have the great reputation and general surge of pain and rage that they can lay claim to today. With songs such as "Hall Of Mirrors", a wonderful song filled with metaphors and hidden meaning, The Distillers take lyrical writing to another level, much deeper than superficial, skin-deep songs provided by many bands today.

Throughout the whole album imagery is cleverly played with, in the lyrics, the lyrics booklet and cover. The whole album is an expression of pain and blood, with seemingly feminist veins, which can be supposed from the cover image and its presumed meaning. Tony Bradley, responsible for the surging, powerful guittaring, and The Distillers' great bassist, Ryan Sinn, are the parts of this incredible whole. With all four members playing their hardest and doing their best, after many line-ups, this could be the finished Distillers, and what a glorious band it is now, rising from the depths of mainstream obscurity to the fiery flames of what could in the future world domination. A fantastic album from a fantastic band.

Brittany Smith

Distillers Tabs: Over 40 tabs!