After going more than three years without making so much as a peep (at least in the recorded sense), Midwest Death Rattle has spent much of 2016’s first five months issuing small-but-frequent samples of its long-awaited and downright wonderful forthcoming full-length, Post Apocalypso. Back in February, we premiered the public domain-packed lyric video for the record’s title track, only to quickly echo that with the debut of the band’s second single, “Feed Them To Each Other.” Now, mere days removed from Saturday night’s Cactus Club record release show, Midwest Death Rattle has saved its best pre-album appetizer for last.
Post-Apocalypso‘s first track “Tacoma Narrows” is a strong start to an even stronger album. The opening rhythmic trot of drums and distorted bass sets the song’s dour-yet-danceable tone, which is enriched with jangling piano, jutting guitars, and the incomparably infectious vocals of singer Nick Perow. Working directly against the song’s name, “Tacoma Narrows” eventually billows outward and cements its status as one of the best Milwaukee-made songs of 2016 when the trumpet accompaniment of Andrew Eshbaugh (Group Of The Altos, Twin Brother) brings it to a whole new level.
Before Midwest Death Rattle finally debuts Post-Apocalypso live and in full at Cactus Club on Saturday, May 21, stream the record’s first track now, only at Milwaukee Record.