Chicago hardcore hooligans Buggin signed to Baltimore’s Flatspot Records at the start of this year, on the strength of their 2020 self-titled EP. Despite being from the Midwest, the group slathers on some serious East Coast flavor. If there is one thing that screams NYC more than a thin, wide, and sloppy slices of pizza, is a big, floppy, ass-dragging grooves. And now, thanks to Buggin, Chicago can at least compete in the groove department. Buggin’s first single for their new label has them all the sick and razor-sharp riffs you crave and the band is going to use them to strip you, bit by strand, like a stick of string cheese.
“Brainfeeze” is a pure, four-on-the-floor, party crasher. Much in the vein of Murphy’s Law or No Redeeming Social Value, Buggin use ugly, motherfuckin’ riffs to create a keg-stand-diving, liquor-cabinet-raiding, dance-party-on-a-pooltable, so-good-it-could-get-you-25-to-life, party-time atmosphere, that manages to keep its head on straight while losing itself in the vibe.
It’s pure jubilation in the way you hardly ever hear bands attempt nowadays, let alone dead-eye nail. The band’s motivating philosophy is self-evident, but to make things a little clearer, I’ll refer you to one of Buggin’s admitted influencers, Rzl Dzl, where in their song “Ignorance is Bliss,” where they explain by way of declaration “Why do we do this shit? It’s for fun!” The same could be said for Buggin and I don’t think they’d push back on me saying so.
Buggin are probably the closest thing to what the Beastie Boys would have sounded like had they stuck with punk and tightened things up a bit following Polly Wog Stew. Not surprisingly, the b-side of the single is a killer rendition of the Beastie’s “Gratitude” that roars to life like a lion shot out of a cannon to land claws and jaws first atop of a fleeing, wide-eyed gazelle. Killer stuff!
You can stream the entirety of Buggin’s Brainfreeze single below:
Get a copy of Buggin’s single from Flatspot Records here.
