Smokey Bastard – Back To The Drawing Room

UK folk punk act Smokey Bastard really embraces their swelling six member cast.  Boasting everything from mandolin and banjo to accordion, the band makes a sharp gnashing bite for their latest full length, Back To The Drawing Room.  Not only is their folk and mildly polka edge as sharp as a tack (think The Dreadnoughts), but their basic guitar has some serious teeth.  While always landing with their footing squarely in the punk scene, some of the chords and solos even land with the muscle of a metal powerhouse.  Smokey Bastard has built a reputation on pushes their boundaries, and Back To The Drawing Room continues that trend.

Flying out the gate with a swift mandolin and accordion ruckus, the band’s gruff vocal outpouring quickly sets the scene.  “Archipelago” serves as a veritable melting pot of Smokey Bastard’s various elements.  Featuring a roughneck tempo and layers of searing gang vocals, the tale of dockside renegades rattles along to layered choruses, beefy riffs and even an eerie Victorian-era, organ-like late-song bridge.  Continuing the rough and tumble maritime feel, songs like “Rats” infuse the sea shanty aspect while flexing their guitar chords.  In an early transition, the band moves inland to tackle the folk tale of the “Baba Yaga” – a supernatural woodland being out for revenge on those foolish enough to venture into her domain.  With an ever escalating pace and and swelling sense of fear, Smokey Bastard weaves the tragic tale of the young Isabella’s untimely demise. It’s a moment of storytelling triumph for Smokey Bastard and one of Back To The Drawing Room’s definite high points.

Aside from the acapella interlude “South Australia” (begging further comparison with The Deradnoughts), the album remains steady in its resolve.  Songs like “Faster Than Light” and “Rotter” maintain a speedy punk disposition, with a few others like “Screens” amping up the drum thumping with an indiscriminate metal darkness.  “Can Of Worms” takes the transformation even further in what could probably be categorized under folk metal a la Scythia.  Generally the band maintains a forward marching momentum, although the tone gets undeniably darker as the disc progresses.  Only a few songs blend into the backdrop, with “Alcobatical” and “Faster Than Light” upholding Smokey Bastard’s attitude but with less distinction than with those of previous mention.  

Fans of folk punk stand to embrace Back To The Drawing Room’s unapologetic personality with arms wide open.  This time around Smokey Bastard lands slightly on the heavier side of the folk punk spectrum, and it suits them.  Brandishing their accordion and unleashing a hail of mandolin and banjo punches, Smokey Bastard infused their heavy handed guitar with forceful yet melodic effect.  Familiar in sound and fresh in spirit, Smokey Bastard continues to define themselves as one of the UK’s most formidable folk-punk outfits.