Release year: 2024
Label: Koffin Kats Records

I’ll be on the level with ya: US psychobilly act Koffin Kats have never been my favourites. I first got to know them in the mid-noughties, and from the go my opinion of them has been pretty much the same: meh.

There are some notable exceptions in their discography. In particular Our Way & The Highway (2012) and to some extent Born Of The Motor (2013) appeal to me. I can’t pinpoint why exactly, because by and large they’re not much different from other Koffin Kats albums. But I like them.

So, what about Higher Lows? After a pause of seven years between albums, have they managed to tap the good vein?

Before we answer that, let’s get one thing clear: long pause or not, Koffin Kats still sound exactly like Koffin Kats. Love ’em or hate ’em, one has to give the band credit for their consistency in sticking to their guns. They’ve chosen their path, and stick to it. Of course, the flipside is that there’s not much in terms of development or evolution between albums.

This means a punked up style of psychobilly informed more by melodic US punk in the style of latter day Misfits and the oozin aahs of Bad Religion than by rockabilly or even classic old school psychobilly. The guitars are coated in distortion and the riffs are decidedly punk. It’s only the trademark slap of the slapping bass that roots this in psychobilly territory. The most identifying element of Koffin Kats’ sound is now, as always, lead vocalist Vic Victor’s brazen style.

For existing fans, this alone will probably be enough.

To return to the question about tapping the good vein: yes, but even more, no. In the very same way Koffin Kats has always been “close but no cigar” to me. Vic Victor’s vocals are in good shape, there’s the occasional chorus that’s kind of nice, and overall the high energy pounding of the band is as vital as ever. It’s hard to dislike this. But on the other hand, none of the songs manage to truly hit home, most choruses peter out before climaxing, and overall it’s another routine effort by the band. So I’m having a hard time liking this, too.

That magic something present on Our Way & The Highway and Born Of The Motor has not re-emerged for Higher Lows. It’s a passable album of Koffin Kats style punkabilly, but nothing more. But, to reiterate: for existing fans, this alone will probably be enough.

On one hand, it’s nice to see the band sticking to their chosen sound and style. On the other hand, I would’ve hoped for a bit more of vital fire after such a long pause. On the third hand – how many hands do I have? – I wasn’t really expecting anything different from what I got.

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