Review: “Crackhead Behavior” by Muddle

Muddle is a relatively new band to hit the Western New York music scene, having released music to Spotify starting in 2019. “Crackhead Behavior” is their sophomore and most recent album release following their debut, “Words I’ll Say To You.” 

“Crackhead Behavior” wastes no time introducing lovable and classic rhythm guitars reminiscent of the huge, distorted tones from foundational punk bands like NOFX, Bad Religion, the Misfits, and even Sabbath. This is mixed with the power chord-driven writing seen throughout punk rock, which does not detract from the technical and informed capability of guitarist Jeff Colson in his screaming leads and additional melodic lines.

Colson continues to push Muddle’s music forward using unique guitar techniques on this record, including heavy use of tremolo, killswitch, and other unorthodox techniques in their riffs, especially on songs like “Bitch.” Everything he plays is mammoth in scale.

This wall of guitars, along with slamming drums and bass, combines well with Maggie Dewitt’s spewed, raw vocals. Her performance seems to take influence from other punk vocalists like Patti Smith and builds upon work by heavy-shout vocalists like Kim Shattuck from The Muffs, Kurt Cobain, and even Zack De La Rocha of Rage Against The Machine. She is seemingly able to conjure primal feelings of anger, angst, and dissent from thin air. Her performance rises to the top of the mix like smoke in a crowded room at a house show, and it hits as hard as the emotions that create it.

Muddle does head-slamming punk well, but they also have nuanced melodic ability. “Blue Haired Girl” and “Something In The Sky” are both tracks reminiscent of The Misfits’ casual mix of melody-based writing with hard punk instrumentation and aura. It rounds out some of the harsh, studded edges of the rest of the album.

The lyrical content overall seems to be a celebration of early punk’s desire to speak out against the typical, outdated values we hold as a society. “Perfume” is a track that stands out to me as an aggressive rejection of typical values of beauty and the judgment passed on women for holding alternative values and lifestyle choices.

Recorded and produced by Brandon Schlia of Steak and Cake Records, the production of the record stays true to a classic and “alive” style of punk records of years gone by. The album retains a raw energy, while also being very listenable and well-balanced. Anyone who’s gone down an obscure punk rabbit hole will understand how rare it is to find well-mixed records among the thousands of poorly produced mixes.

“Crackhead Behavior” is a roots punk celebration. It’s new, unafraid, and pressing onward while still remaining in the realm of the classic punk spirit. It’s seemingly a rejection of the perfect, polished world of the pop-punk movement. It’s gritty, raw, untamed, and seems to take influence from the chromatic, gruesome, and utilitarian writing of grunge and hardcore.

I personally am excited to hear what Muddle comes out with next, and I recommend this record to anyone who is a fan of punk music and is excited to hear fresh, young musicians put out great work.