Today, Sacramento, CA hardcore band Worst Ways release their debut album Worst Ways, through New Age Records. The ten songs on the record are fast, intense, and direct, pushing forward an anxious, nervous, keep you off guard energy. The album was recorded with Paul Miner at Buzzbomb Studios (Trapped Under Ice, Death By Stereo, New Found Glory) who helped the band hone in on their sonic style. You can listen to Worst Ways HERE and purchase it on vinyl though New Age Records.
Throughout the album fast riffs, pulsating drums, and impassioned screams take precedent. Opener “Never Know” is a ballistic anthem showcasing the punk leaning roots of the band. On “Shattered,” Marshall Lichtenwaldt of The Warriors joins in on guest vocals, adding rigid dimension to the track. “Forever Free” is a minute and a half blitz addressing finding meaning in a messed up world. The longest song on the album comes in closer “White Horses,” which leaves Worst Ways dynamic sound in your head with metal-leaning guitar and infectious shouts.
Adding to what listeners can expect from their debut, the band shares:
“From the opener, ‘Never Know,’ dealing with topics like rejection and regret, to track 9, ‘Fragile & Frail,’ with it’s kind of neurotic feeling opening riff, that opens up midway just to double down on the frantic energy; telling yourself, that inner monologue that keeps you from finishing anything to shut the fuck up. There are certainly topics explored like loss, not just of loved ones, but of loss of self, loss of direction, and that those things aren’t always the negative they might seem in the moment.
While this is our debut album with this project, we feel like it’s definitely the culmination of our time in other bands that make it special, we are just getting started and seeing what we can push, where we can go together with this line up. We really want people to find their own meaning in these tracks as much as possible, and not tell them what or how to feel about it.”
Worst Ways have a few record release shows scheduled for this November with labelmates Spark Of Life, full dates below.
Worst Ways is Jonnie D – Vocals, Phil Mengell – Bass, Backup Vocals, Grant Hodgdon – Guitar, Ryan Saunders – Guitar, and Trevor Baxter – Drums.
Worst Ways Tracklist:
1. Never Know
2. Permanent
3. Fade
4. Shattered (feat. Marshall Lichtenwaldt of The Warriors)
5. Failure
6. Always Reaching
7. Better Off
8. Forever Free
9. Fragile & Frail
10. White Horses
Upcoming Shows:
11/8 Reno, NV @ Midnight Coffee w/ Spark of Life, Impurities
11/9 Tehachapi, CA @ Westlane Brewery w/ Spark of Life, In Balance, Step By Step
11/10 Fullerton, CA @ The Programme w/ Spark of Life, Mad Peaceful, In Balance