Austin-based hardcore band MUGGER have graced the world with their debut full-length album, Luck Forever, out now on Quiet Panic Records. This record is filled with mosh-worthy energy reminiscent of the hardcore’s early days. Additionally, Anna Troxell’s lyrics have an introspective sarcasm that will make Luck Forever an instant hardcore classic.
Luck Forever’s intro song is like one you would hear as a batter comes up to the plate just before demolishing a home run. With its cool, calm, and collected hip-hop beat, you are fooled into thinking that you’re going to enjoy a nice, calm record. Yet, as the track is about to end, we get a sample from the movie Clueless with a distorted Cher Horowitz saying, “As if!” This distorted quote feels like MUGGER laughing about starting with such an intro song just before they destroy the calm that they created.
That calm is disturbed by the track “Crank It Up.” This track clocks in at just under a minute but packs plenty of punch. As the song starts, we are greeted with a mid-tempo, sludgy sound. The tempo picks up after Troxell instructs, “Crank it up!” Troxell’s vocals convey a sense of weariness as she groans, “You’re living in a daydream. You have an outdated version of me. Let it go, let it die.”
MUGGER waste no time as they go right into the track “Find Out!” We are greeted by Troxell and guest vocalist John Brannon (Negative Approach, Laughing Hyenas, Easy Action) growling, “Do you wanna know how,” creating a sinister sound as their vocals combine. Troxell continues to provide her powerful vocals as she growls, “I clawed it outta your mouth? Like a dog who won’t lose the bone. I want it. I need it. Ya had it. I grabbed it. On my own.” Musically, guitarist Daniel Fried’s guitar acrobatics teeter between classic hardcore and thrash over a danceable rhythm created by drummer Patrick Troxell and bassist Lisa Alley.
Skipping ahead to the stand-out track Candy Apple Baseball, this song pierces through with a cheeky look into what is “girly.” Anna Troxell’s vocals rip apart these gender stereotypes with bratty confidence as she snarls, “Candy apple baseball. Cherry ice cream. Just all your typical girly things.” Throughout the song, Fried’s guitar plays like a chainsaw which is helping tear down these stereotypes.
Moving forward, we reach the track Dear SCOTUS, which has a very clear message, Anna Troxell screams passionately, “No, it doesn’t belong to you. My body and mine alone. No, it doesn’t occur to you, son. It’s mine and mine alone. It’s mine.” “SCOTUS” feels like it will give hope to so many who feel hopeless during the time we live in.
MUGGER have delivered one of the best debut hardcore albums in a while. Each song blasts through like a bullet train breaking the sound barrier. Troxell perfectly conveys the right amount of vocal angst, as her lyrics inspire us to not take any shit and be true to ourselves.
Photo courtesy of MUGGER
