Zuzax

Damaged Bug started off as a place for John Dwyer to experiment with synths and songs that didnt quite fit in with what the Osees were doing at the time. Over the years, the project inched closer to the Osees, by the time of 2026s ZUZAX it was hard to tell the two groups apart. The only real difference is the use of synths as the main driver of sound instead of guitars but really, songs like "Double Yolks" and other tracks wouldn’t sound out of place on an Osees album. Some of the more outre tracks like "Mozzy Rooves & More" do travel some distance from the norm, but as long as Dwyer is behind the mike and is going bonkers in that fascinating way he has, this will all be instantly recognizable to fans of his work. Thats a wordy way of saying that this is prime Dwyer. ZUZAX is made up of songs that were never finished, then were given the final push and completed. Despite that, the album doesnt sound like cast-offs and second-rate chaff, it burns and cranks like a hotrod on fire with Dwyer sounding alternately furious and intensely railing against gnarly politics and getting murkily trippy. Alongside the roiling rockers are some nicely restrained tracks that lurk instead of rock, delivering a different kind of thrill. "Sike Witch" is one of these and shows that while Dwyer may be known for tearing the roof off, he can also creep with the best of them. The big surprises on the album are the neck-breaking left-turns. First is "Junk Food," an oddly funky, falsetto-sung song that sounds like Prince from the "Kiss" era, only with at least one flat tire. If that isnt bonkers enough, exhibit two is "Over-Exposed" and this one is hard to describe. Dwyer sings in a louche baritone, the synths shimmer like a cheap spangled dress, theres a smarmy sax honking around the edges, and the backing vocals are airily chirpy. Its new wave, chillwave, and promwave all at once and its kind of brilliant. The doomy, politically demonic "Man Without a Planet" is also bizarre, but its a little on the nose and doesnt work quite as well. Still, Dwyer is trying some new stuff here, along with dropping a ton of molten Damaged Bug-style goodies, and thats to be applauded. Especially when the off-track diversions are so much fun. Damaged Bug will always operate in the shadow of Osees, but anyone looking for similar, but also wildly different, excitement would be foolish not to give them a listen and might as well start here, as its as unhinged and exciting as anything else in their catalog. ~ Tim Sendra