Album Reviews

Seeing as it had been six years since their last album, I honestly wasn't expecting a new Western Addiction record. But here we are. Psychedelic Munitions is the band's fourth full-length, delivering a dozen new bangers in classic Western Addiction fashion. It's fast, it's angry, it's melodic, and above all, it's a hell of a lot of fun.

What started as a side project between Fat Wreck Chords employees has grown into one of hardcore punk's most reliable forces. Western Addiction has always worn its influences on its sleeve, paying tribute to the genre's roots while putting its own unmistakable spin on the sound. The band spent three years crafting this album, and it shows. The songs flow effortlessly, the pacing feels just right, and the songwriting is consistently strong from start to finish.

Compared to 2020's Frail Bray, the biggest change is that the songs are a little shorter and lean even further into melody without sacrificing any of the band's trademark intensity. Sometimes a song title alone is enough to grab my attention ("Linda, I Made You a Knife"), but the one thing you can always count on with Western Addiction is delivering a killer record. Psychedelic Munitions is no exception with early album highlights like "Let's Keep the Circle Small" and "The Whippoorwill," while the blistering title track and closer “Flower Of The Flock” keep up the intensity on the album’s second half.

Psychedelic Munitions track listing:

1. The First Witch
2. Let's Keep the Circle Small
3. Grain and the Law
4. The Whippoorwill
5. Your Need Is Great
6. Sevilla Midnight
7. Linda, I Made You a Knife
8. Psychedelic Munitions
9. Damn'd
10. The Diamond
11. Riled Crest
12. Flower of the Flock