The Darbs

She's A Dungeon Master Now (2024)

Mike Elfers

Sheboygan, Wisconsin punk rock is back on the map with She's A Dungeon Master Now from the Darbs.

The LP rips open with the title track, welding quick snapping bass riffs a-la Matt Freeman to the same Lookout! quality thug vocals from 2019's self-titled release. "To Their Knees" follows with more locked-in bass from John Michels before melting into infectious vocal hooks. "You Got Me" picks up the tempo with another sing-along classic. "What We Did Not Know" picks up with tasteful, elementary up-down on the snare and toms from Brad Wickesberg, who really shines on the whole session.
"Cheap Thrills" is about as no-nonsense Queers/Weasel as you can get, and is a huge standout song. "Roll Away" winds the chorus around an acoustic intro, hoisting the anthem high with the inevitable full band start. "In The Air" is perhaps the quickest and catchiest of the twelve, featuring a killer bass noodling section from Michels. "Go, Go, Go" is a great change in pace, bringing half-time and a call-and-response vocal/low tom juxtaposition. "You Better Know Better" is a killer short tune, summarizing the Darbs sound in a delightful minute and twenty-seven seconds.

"Into The City" is back to business with lightening fast hi-hats, complete with more group singing and a classic Ramones "HEY!" "Must Have Been Crazy" tugs the half-time speed just slow enough for the lead vocals to really steer She's A Dungeon Master Now towards the hyper closer "On And On." The beauty of this release (and the rest of the Darbs' small catalogue) is the simplicity. Less is most, the band-mate chemistry, as well as their cohesion and homework, are on full display for the entire production. Fun listen.