Album Review: Death By Unga Bunga - “Heavy Male Insecurity”

 

Hands up, although I’d heard of Death By Unga Bunga prior to this album (let’s be honest, a band name like that is kind of hard to ignore), this is my first encounter with these Norwegians’ actual music. And, by 'eck, it's a weird one. Hank Von Hell fronting Weezer? Green Day handing over songwriting duties to Electric Six? It's an odd 'un and no mistake but it's undeniably got the hooks to draw you in.

If there's a touch of tongue-in-cheekness about opener Modern Man, it's easily ignored for its chantalong chorus and the stomping Egocentric could almost be a much less obnoxious Blink 182. Not Like The Others almost goes full on Cheap Trick/'80s Kiss style stadium rock before No Pain No Gain goes off down spikier avenues you'd more readily associate with the Backyard Babies' good stuff or maybe the Hellacopters. Similarly, Like Your Style recalls the showmanship of Royal Republic but it's then followed by the Thin Lizzy twin-guitar influenced Live Until I Die. Best of all though is the strutting Faster Than Light which really coalesces all the good things about this band into one effervescent singalong beaut of a tune which is one part Hives and one part Tsar. Good stuff and it leaves just the closing stomper White Lies to guide us home nicely.

DBUB are a difficult band to pin down and if there's a slight complaint about Heavy Male Insecurity it's that it arguably swings between so many different styles that it doesn't quite get the chance to build up its momentum the way it could with maybe a bit of added punch to the sound the way that bands like the D4 or Danko Jones used to do. But still, this is a good effort and for those out there with a sweet tooth for sugary harmonies and guitar lines and a whole truckload of camp-as-you-like attitude you may well find plenty to enjoy here.

Bandcamp link

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑🌑 (7/10)