Dads, "I’ll Be the Tornado" (6131)

Dads%2C+%26quot%3BIll+Be+the+Tornado%26quot%3B+%286131%29

Luke Palermo

Heavier and grungier emo that remembers its twinkly roots.

I‰’ll Be The Tornado marks Dads‰’ full emergence from their cocoon of the traditional “twinkly‰” sound of the emo revival, and development into something bigger and better than ever. Although the New Jersey two-piece have been slowly cultivating their blend of emo, garage punk, and grunge with multiple releases since their debut in 2011, their progression becomes immensely clear when juxtaposing their first and latest releases.

Dads are heavier than ever on this record, both musically and emotionally, with even the shorter song titles (as compared to earlier releases) signal a noticeable shift in song-writing. The first track, “Grand Edge, MI‰Û, starts off with a subdued acoustic riff and vocalist John Bradley reminiscing on the past and what he wished had gone differently.

Then halfway through, the drums and electric guitars make their dramatic appearance with powerful beats and distorted power chords.

Despite the newfound prevalence of these heavier sounds, the older emo can‰’t help but shine through on tracks like “Chewing Ghosts‰Û, “Sunburnt Jet Wings‰Û, and “But‰Û, whose upbeat rhythms, memorable guitar riffs, and drumming are reminiscent of a much earlier time.

Overall the record is an intense and interesting experience for any emo, punk, or garage rock fan, especially Dads fans, and creates excitement for where the band will end up by their next record.

RIYL: Joie De Vivre, Dikembe, Old Gray
Recommended Tracks: 1, 4, 7, 8