Portland, OR’s P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. finally return with a blazing two song slab of vinyl that shows them growing as songwriters without slowing down.
“Hit and Run” continues the Motörhead-tinged Stooge-rock the quintet established on their excellent 2011 Make It Through the Night LP (Doomtown). A furious tale of regret and disappointment builds to Raw Power insanity, the guitars of Scott and Matty exploding in a frenzy of anger. On the B-side, “45 Minutes” rips through a tight rockabilly groove laid down by the rhythm section of drummer Ian and bassist Kelly (Halliburton of Pierced Arrows). Bradley’s whiskey-tinged vocals recount a long-distance relationship while on the road, making it a perfect drinking sing-a-long.
As great as these songs are, they aren’t enough to completely satisfy an eager appetite. A second full-length is long-overdue, but, until that happens, let the turntable wear down the grooves on “Hit and Run.”
