Rock/Review Bladderwrack - So Damned Alpha

Bladderwrack is a 3-man rant rock band playing protest music with uncompromising and unique lyrical content. Bladderwrack was formed as a reaction to the repellent events and specimens dominating our headlines and media, and every song is a tirade directed at a deserving muse.

“So Damned Alpha” by Bladderwrack is more of a sonic riot—a angry, theatrical, and unabashed raw album than it is an album. The three-piece band, which bills itself as a "rant rock" group, delivers a vicious slew of protest songs that are all caustic in their critique of the absurdity of contemporary society. Bladderwrack's music is a full-throttle outburst of rage, wit, and resistance with no space for nuance and no enthusiasm for commercial gloss.

Guttural vocals, distorted guitar noise, and unrelenting rhythm work collide musically in “So Damned Alpha.” Part street preacher, part Nick Cave, and completely insane, the Victorian undertaker figure screams venom over a maelstrom of fuzz pedals. The drummer, known as the "gravedigger," adds fire to the craze both vocally and rhythmically, while the bass acts as a sledgehammer, grounding the turmoil with a thumping pulse.

However, the album's literary goal is what really makes it compelling. Every song seems to be an open letter against cultural degradation, cowardice, and corruption. Bladderwrack doesn't hold back when voicing their complaints, whether they are directed at corporate greed, governmental hypocrisy, or societal indifference. They do so with dramatic flare and brutal accuracy.

There is a logic to the chaos despite the aural bombardment. The band's connection and cohesiveness are evident, and they use their anger to create oddly cathartic tunes.

For those who are looking for protest music with guts, teeth, and a joyfully deranged sense of purpose, “So Damned Alpha” is a must-listen. However, it is not for the faint of heart. Bladderwrack makes rage sound exciting; they're not just angry.