Music: Idder

IDDER

It's been nearly a year since Idder last unveiled new material in the form of the Angry or Blue EP which featured four ripping tracks - the title track, "Come Our Way," "Parking Lot" and "Ride" - that truly rivaled anything by their main influences, including grunge-era heroes Mudhoney and Primus. Band members Adam Roberts (vocals/guitar), Ron Latham (bass), Clayton Evans (drums) and Jake Bethel (guitar) put the tri-state scene on notice with such a solid release - while also promising that more was to come. True to their word, Idder is back with Smash Into the Sun, the long-awaited full-length album boasting four brand new songs alongside the tracks from the previous sessions. Best of all, it's both a digital and physical release this time for all the collectors out there.

Once again working with Evansville's Steve Tyner at Black Cat Recording, Idder set out to capture the energy of the new material in the studio without overpowering the infectious melodies inherent in the likes of album opener "Just Another Day," which expertly marries metal-tinged verses with a soaring chorus: "When I feel like I am a clone/ The world's a dog and I'm its bone/ And if my luck should turn to stone, well, just another day..." It's a prime example of what Idder does best - bringing the rock but never skimping on the hooks. Too, the lyrics always amuse with Roberts recounting tales of working for the man, dealing with idiots and other relatable life struggles. But he also shows his softer side this time around on the heartfelt "Apology," a fan favorite that's finally been committed to tape.

Elsewhere, the title track finds Roberts repeating, with near-contempt, "I'm just the devil, no need for empathy" over a mean groove, followed by an emphatic declaration: "I may seem empty and hollow/ But I'm not dead inside." "Cat's Pajamas," however, proves to be a romantic gesture of sorts, as he gently croons over a down-tempo, vaguely Middle Eastern riff: "The moon will guide us through our dark night/ Under starry skies your eyes twinkle with starlight/ You're the bees knees, the cat's pajamas/ I got fleas, but you're the cats pajama's." But no matter Roberts' mood, Bethel, Evans and Latham are right there in the pocket, providing a muscular musical backing that's tough yet radio-ready - with due credit to Tyner for bringing the best out of one of the tri-state's top bands.

PHOTO CREDIT: RUSH SLOCUM

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