Crobot

Welcome to Fat City (2016)

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Party rock gets a bad rap. Usually it’s a bunch of dudes who want to get hammered and hang out. No responsibilities, just good times. Crobot carries on the tradition, for better or worse, able to ride the fine line between party punk with a heavy edge and pop metal festival side stagers. While seemingly different, aurally the similarities are astounding.

Welcome to Fat City is jam-packed with riffs, guitars ready and able to shred. Clearly these guys spent a lot of time mixing their Slayer records with hair metal. But punk plays a factor as well, especially in early parts of Fat City. The title track and single “Not For Sale” aren’t sparse on the solos or chunky riffs but are eerily reminiscent of the Keith Buckley/Anthrax side project The Damned Things. Crobot prides themselves on sharing bills with Motörhead and Clutch but also fits on bills with Sevendust and UK’s The Virginmarys, unironically. Sonically, Crobot acts as the bridge. Because there’s a middle part of Fat City that gushes early 2000s radio metal and missteps into second-tier 90s grunge, with looser, less calculated guitars. Vocalist Brandon Yeagley reaches for his upper register aiming for a poor man’s Axl Rose. Mostly though, he sticks to his Chris Cornell imitation. For bonus effect he also plays a killer harmonica!

There is a heaviness that transcends your usual party band, though. This is courtesy of studio guru Machine, who has worked with everyone from Every Time I Die to Lamb of God to Four Year Strong. He makes his authority known as he finds the harmony in the head banging, harnessing it into something that comes alive on record. Crobot benefits greatly from his expertise.

But still the most important part of any party rock band is the actual party, and Crobot lives and breathes this type of guitar-driven rock and roll. Welcome to Fat City has everything your favorite 80s albums had—big hooks, chunky distortion, and a pseudo ballad near the end (“Moment of Truth”)—but adds 2010’s charisma. Crobot exists to convert many different groups unfamiliar with the band into fans. And the next time your local rock radio station throws its annual bash, these guys are sure to take advantage.