A fitting moniker if ever there was one, Long Island's
Small Arms Dealer have concocted an impressive melodic punk Molotov with their debut,
A Single Unifying Theory. Incendiary guitars collide with a steam train drum rumble as memorable, hook-doused refrains prepared in a style that's linked to
Jawbox,
Hot Water Music, and labelmates
Latterman invade your consciousness. It's no coincidence that Phil Douglas of the aforementioned recorded, mixed, and mastered this winner of a disc. Gruff pipes courtesy of frontman Jason Lubrano give thick-riffed numbers like "Tonight... on a Very Special Episode," "Scumbagsville, CT," and "A Fire in the Mine" a persuasive touch. But straight-up punk aside,
SAD do edgy, rock-based material just as convincingly, as evidenced by "Baby's Too High to Drive Tonight" and "Pagansong." Only the folksy "My Headlocks Are (Crazy)" is questionable, if only because Lubrano's gravelly voice is an ill fit for the strumming and affable female harmonies that engulf it. That aside, this is an explosive effort. ~ John D. Luerssen