I don't think The Rumtones are out here trying to rewrite what Surf is. They're here to play loud, put on a good show, provide some music that will make you feel amped. It works, and if everybody tried to do things differently in surf, there wouldn't be enough of this stuff to enjoy. So I forgive them for the questionable move of having a self-titled record in 2024 when they already had one in 2022. I don't mind that there's a few songs on both records. They're rerecorded and sound better on this one. The old one sounded a little more scummy punk distortion-ey, this one is more clean but with a nice serrated edge to the guitar sound. And it's mastered better and sounds much louder.
The Rumtones aren't all crunch and punch, but they certainly do that aspect well. "Bottom Turn to Oblivion" and "Jetty Banger" are two tracks that keep the listener riding their big ol chords and not asking much more. But they also slow it down for a hulking, almost doomy lurch on tracks like "Last Voyage" or "Marked by Shadows". "Coffin for Two" has an almost middle-eastern flourish to it and "Onda Salvaje" goes in a, as I like to call it, Super Spaghetti direction. It's enough variety to keep things fresh while also sticking to that power surf sound. It works well, a fully fleshed out set, maybe enough to keep you in front of the stage, but I'm sure they'd forgive you for taking a trip to the bar. For those of us at home, turn it up.
This is on CD and digital, though their Nazare 7", released basically at the same time, is also fun!
