Photo by Dylan Johnson

By DCist Contributor Alex Tebeleff

Post-hardcore trio Two Inch Astronaut, hailing from Colesville, Md., bring a sound that will feel familiar to longtime local music fans on their new album, Foulbrood. Their sound is quickly recognizable, informed by many of the greats of D.C.’s punk past, but hints of Rites of Spring and Fugazi, along with the proto-emo of groups like Sunny Day Real Estate, doesn’t mean that this band isn’t original. These guys don’t just mine their influences; they use aspects of their influences to carve out music that feels familiar but still their own.

The most immediate aspect of Foulbrood is the grainy, distorted guitars that scream at you to listen, yet the vocal melodies float through, all supported by an extremely tight rhythm section that rarely stays still. The use of contrasting beats between sections gives the music an almost (almost!) prog-like quality, but most importantly it gives support to the songwriting by creating synergy that keeps the listener engaged. Catchy hooks filter easily through every song on the record, while the vocals are strangely comforting—and surprisingly versatile—against the snarl of guitars.

The record’s first single, which is also its opening cut, would have sounded right at home in 1993. It even could have been an alternative rock radio hit back then, with its undeniably accessible chorus. Still, nothing on this album sounds remotely outdated. A lot of that has to do with the live atmosphere and raw sound: it fits the material particularly well. The immediacy allows the energy of the music to take over first and foremost.

The track “Dead White Boy” shows that Two Inch Astronaut still believe in rock as a vehicle for social awareness, much like many of their post-hardcore forefathers. Lyrics like “Death is an entrance and you’re not prepared” give a song that already makes a strong statement more personal weight and poetic sensibility. This cut is just one example of the particularly powerful and demanding lyrics on this album, something that really makes Foulbrood stand out.

Meanwhile, tracks like the slow, melodic “Black Fridge Area,” and the unique “1,2 Talk,” give the album a sense of wholeness, because if every song was supercharged and heavy throughout, it could easily tire a listener.

It’s become fashionable in parts of the music press to claim that rock has lost its relevance, but it’s those writers in particular who should go listen to Foulbrood with an open mind. It’s not that the album is breaking any truly new ground, but the band is building on what came before them honestly, organically, and confidently.

There’s been a lot of debate recently on whether the music of D.C.’s past is getting too much nostalgic coverage. Hopefully this album can serve as one of the many examples of why the music being made in D.C. right now demands at least as much attention as the vintage stuff. Maybe even more.

Foulbrood by Two Inch Astronaut

Two Inch Astronaut play a record release show on Sunday, December 7 at The Dougout with Big Ups, Mannequin Pussy, Washer, and Jail Solidarity. Details here.