Local Review: Bandhood – Bandhood 3

Bandhood
Bandhood 3
Self-Released
Street: 01.01
Bandhood = Torche + Red Fang

Remember attending your first concert and feeling adrenaline coursing through your veins as you waited in anticipation for the thrill of a live performance? That is the exact same feeling I get listening to Bandhood 3. Bandhood is a solo project by the man, the myth, the legend Andrew Drechsel. He has been all around Salt Lake City’s underground rock, metal and grunge scenes. Drechsel has been a part of Swarmer, Motherkilljoy and Laughter. With aspirations for something dissimilar, Drechsel is able to fuse the sounds of pop, folk, indie, metal and rock into three of his own distinguishable albums. One thing that makes this album stand out is that it is a collaboration of so many different artists like Drechsel whose astounding vocals mix with the sound of Bandhood.

The originality of Bandhood is heard through “Sacred Scary”, one of my personal favorites on the album. There is a conflicting cadence as the song starts off with hostile malevolent vocals and is followed by melancholy vocals in the second verse — this oddly makes the song harmonious and rhythmic in its own way. The best way to describe this song is like softly being lured into the depths of hell. “Feed on Jesus, drink blood, it’s been blessed, eat of his flesh,” These lyrics were so brutal and have underlying messages of the taboo subject, Satan himself. 

For those who are more into heavier rock, “A Tone” would be the perfect listen on this album. Not only does it have peddlin’ percussion and heavy guitar tones, it contains some indignant vocals and features Christopher Clement and Peter Makowski from Swarmer, a local metal band. 

“Mom and Rhode (The Better Part)” and “Molly and Rhode (What Matters Most)” are very similar in sound and are best described as the calm after the storm. Beautifully composed and full of grief, and sadness, these songs were really captivating and one can see the inside of Dreschsel’s thoughts as he sings about love, pain and sorrow. Dreschsel talks about overcoming adversity and change as a heavy guitar riff is heard in the background with the same tone until the end of “Molly and Rhode.” 

After listening to this album, I can now understand how you would be able to mix so many genres into one cohesive flow. This album almost drives you into an endless abyss of ethereal sound. I have never heard anything quite like Bandhood. If you are open to listening to something new and versatile, Bandhood is the perfect music to rock your cock off. – Litzi Estrada 

Read more reviews of albums that make you feel young again:
Local Review: The Apathetics – Last Rites
Local Review: Ambedo – Polyresin