Let’s be honest, with a name like Anti-Fashion, you kind of know what you’re going to get before you hear a note. Which is not to diminish the impact of this debut album but rather to note that Dirt & Dust fits nicely into the hard rock pantheon from the name to the pseudo-cut-out font used for the album title.
There’s a certain lineage to Anti-Fashion, mind. Led by energetic frontman Rob Cass (Midnight Dogs), the band features the combined talents of guitarists JJ Watt (The City Kids, Thirteen Stars, Spill Sixteen, etc.), and Frank Meyer (The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs, Trading Aces), drummer Kath Edmonds (Kath & The Kicks, Rubella Ballet and StarRats), and bassist Steve Ward (Midnight Dogs). And that experience shows, with the album offering up thirteen hard-edged, old-school tracks with punk energy, a strong melodic push, and plenty of attitude.
The album kicks off as it means to go on, with the harmonic-washed punk ‘n’ roll of Drag Me Down, which has more than a touch of Wildhearts to be found amidst the low-slung guitars and pop harmonies. The band follow it up with the whip-crack percussion of Let Love Rule, which is kind of where Guns ‘n’ Roses were headed on Use Your Illusion, only without the ungodly budget. Nailed by a heavily distorted bass line and a lyric that taps into the same vein as The Boys Are Back In Town, it’s a rock ‘n’ roll anthem that, while packing a well-worn trope, is sure to go over well live. Better, to my mind, is call-and-response rocker Day By Day, which speaks well to Rob Cass’ Bowie-esque vocal strengths. It’s followed by another strong effort for, while She’s The One may have a title that screams “power ballad”, it’s actually a hard-struttin’ rocker with some great riffs and a super-taut beat.
The first real effort to take the pedal from the metal occurs with the dusty blues of No Escape. It still packs one hell of a crunchy chorus, mind, but the bluesy verse provides a welcome change of pace, and it also provides a nice counterpoint to the Clash-infused Going Nowhere. Slightly more surprising is Nightmare, which switches from The Clash to The Undertones, with Rob adding just a touch of vibrato to his vocal in a manner reminiscent of Fergal Sharkey. The band are clearly on a roll, too, because From The Heart is not so much counted in as launched into the stratosphere by Kath Edmonds. Throw in a hotwired guitar riff and you’ve got an album highlight on your hands. Less punky but still cool is the bluesy rocker Wild Animal, which nods to Free, although the pre-chorus feels strangely overcrowded, lyrically, reducing the impact of a track that otherwise feels well focused.
As the album approaches its end, the band unveil the acoustic-kissed ballad Dirt & Dust. With a pinch of country amidst the riffs, it’s a solid song slightly undone by lyrics that once again lean a little too heavily into pastiche for their own good. It then wraps up with the stabbing Too Much Pressure, which pulls things back in the right direction, just as the band are out the door, dealing out a hard-driving riff that owes a debt to the late, great Rory Gallagher.
The deluxe edition of the album also throws in two bonus tracks, one of which is a definite keeper. I must confess, I’m a sucker for the sort of boozy, woozy riff that powers Highway 101 and, with the guitars nailed down hard by Kath’s beat, it’s a solid song that fans will want to hear. In contrast, a fairly straight cover of the Rolling Stones’ Dead Flowers is fine, but feels a little redundant, to be honest.
With Dirt & Dust, Anti-Fashion have pretty firmly nailed their colours to the mast and, for the most part, it’s a solid effort, well produced and with strong performances from all involved. It’s not without its flaws, however. At 11 tracks and just over forty minutes in length (closer to fifty in the deluxe edition), the album is at least a song or two over its fighting weight, while the over-reliance on familiar lyrical conceits is something the band will want to phase out on album number two. That said, it’s great to hear a group of talented musicians simply cutting loose and doing what they love. Where most are turning to tribute bands because it’s easier, cheaper, and a quicker route to the hearts of the nostalgic; Anti-Fashion have opted for a harder but more authentic approach, and that’s something we need more than ever in these troubled times.
Anti-Fashion have the attitude, energy, and melodies to turn heads, while Dirt & Dust makes for a very convincing debut. If you’re hankering after something a little gritty, a little punky, a little bluesy, and a little dirty, then this is for you! 8/10
