A Rock-Fueled But Diverse EP from Traitors

The latest record from Traitors manages to deliver a soiree of rock-infused approaches ranging from 90s pop rock to edgy and heavy-handed blues rock, among others, and it's all done with a robust sort of character and just the right amount of drive when it needs it.

The Wanted By Definition album starts with "Rainforest Song (Return)", which features some outstanding guitar work and gives you a little feel for the bright, pop-rock soundscape they can deliver while also having a bit of that edginess in its undertone.

This track does give a few staples that you can hear on the rest of the EP, but this is certainly a record you listen to all the way through.

The EP spans four tracks, and each one stands on its own two feet very well and offers something different in terms of songwriting, performance, and arrangement.

This first song is alive and breathing with this righteous energy and comes through with amazing, plucky guitars and a great drive.

What's cool about this track is that it's mainly instrumental but still gives you this full-bodied and very lush sort of feel.

The next track, "Shelter", is a total banger and automatically hits harder with a heavier and grittier sort of fuzz tone distortion and tone along with this Soulful, blues rock approach.

The riffs on this track are outstanding and completely different from the previous song.

This track in particular has a really heavy punch to it, and the vocals are as robust as the guitars.

This is one of the tracks on the record that you begin to feel like everything was recorded live.

It certainly feels like a lot of these songs were tracked right there in the moment during a live performance of some type, and they capture this electric energy by doing so.

This song was huge and displayed some of the heavier style drumming on the record as well.

The drums on this album are absolutely perfect. They're always right in the pocket but give an added liveliness to everything. There's always some great fills, and although it's in the pocket, it has that little extra gusto that you can tell the guitars feed off of.

This is important because that's what I mean by thinking that this record was recorded live on the floor.

It's as if everyone involved was feeding off of each other's energies and that's how they came up with this almost live performance aesthetic.

Traitor is actually a duo.

This absolutely blew my mind because it's again, such a full-bodied sounding record.

I have a strange affection for rock duos for some reason, and I loved this record before I learned that they were an actual duo, but now that I know, it's even better to me.

They're able to bring together alternative, blues, garage, and indie rock all in one EP, and they do it with an exuberance that becomes addictive.

The whole aesthetic of this record is completely infectious right from the start, and you could tell that they're having an absolute blast doing it.

The next track, "In My Head", is an example of what I mean by a 90s pop-rock sort of approach.

The track features particular, almost augmented riffs that remind you of bands like the Toadies, for example.

It captures that 90s radio-friendly but still kind of underground alternative rock and grunge vibe.

The progression, composition, performance, and the way the vocals come across are all indicative of that kind of influence in their musical approach.

This was a massive record, and for something that spans four tracks, it really gives you a lot.

The EP closes with "Wanderin' Blues", which has an amazing, slow burn kind of build, but once it gets to that climatic element, it bursts with an explosive feel.

You can tell that this is the kind of band that you want to go see live.

Even if I'm wrong about the whole live on the floor recording thing, listening to this record does make you want to go see them perform it live in your face simply because, if they can capture this kind of energy and raw aesthetic so well on record, then seeing it live must be awesome.

You rarely come across a band you can hear on record and immediately know they're going to be awesome live, but this is one of those bands.

I'm telling you, its those rock duos that bring the biggest sound for some reason.

At any rate, this is a record you should listen to in full, from start to finish, and you should do it nice and loud.

There are surprises around the corners and layers of awesome rock texture to soak in, along with attitude, swagger, soul, and plenty of memorable aspects that stick with you for long after the record ends.

Check this one out now and remember where you heard it first.

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