POST TRAUMATIK – SAINT TRAUMATIK (no label) Formed in Homer City in 2008 but now calling Pittsburgh their home base, Post Traumatik further hones their hard-rocking musical mix on their latest album, “Saint Traumatik.” Since their 2019 debut album “Anger Management,” the group has added former One Adam 12 frontman Lloyd Rummell on guitar and vocals; joining lead singer Chelsea Stiles, lead guitarist Joe Pribesh, rhythm guitarist Sean Murphy, bassist Tony Malandro and drummer Tyler Sprankle. Through eight original songs and two covers, Post Traumatik ups the crunch and swagger as they blend flavors of hard rock, punk and blues. Lyrically, the group indulges their adoration of horror and sci-fi themes, cryptid folklore and even the pro-wrestling squared circle. The album opens with one of the cover songs, as Tony’s ominous bass line leads into a hard, bluesy read of Concrete Blonde’s vampire ode, “Bloodletting,” introducing listeners to Chelsea’s potent, authoritative voice. She displays a sassier edge on Post Traumatik’s rendition of indie folk-rocker Ani Di Franco’s “Shy.” Lloyd flexes his pipes several times on the album, including the hopeful punk-rocking “Life Boat,” and tag-teaming with Chelsea on the rampaging folk creature tribute “Flight of the Mothman” (which Lloyd previously created with One Adam 12), the body-snatching alien infiltration rant “Invasion” and the driving, album-ending anthem to Hulk Hogan and Hulkamania, “Running Wild” (with Greg Shotts on drums). What sounds like a banjo presence helps introduce the southern rock-flavored “Throw It Away,” and the group shows their overall firepower on the escalating “Slow Creep,” about letting go of anger. The group’s melodies and arrangements strike quickly and hook you in. Post Traumatik fires on all cylinders; their presentation is hard-hitting and tightly-executed, and both Chelsea and Lloyd sing their words with heart and purpose. Co-produced by the band with John Stoecker, the album was recorded at Razorblade Recordings in West Mifflin. Post Traumatik raises the bar on “Saint Traumatik,” delivering their strongest and hardest-hitting set so far. (The album can be obtained in digital file, CD and vinyl form through the group’s Bandcamp page, and can be accessed through streaming platforms.)
WANDERLOST – WANDERLOST (self-titled EP, no label) What do you get when four area musical educators merge together into a band? In this case, you get the catchy blend of jazzy flavors, pop and rock that is Ebensburg’s Wanderlost. Forming in 2022, Wanderlost has rapidly grown a following through their appearances on venue and festival stages throughout western PA. All four music educators and band members – singer and keyboardist Dustin Rainey (teaches at Ferndale Area High School), bassist Mike Kokus (Cambria Heights High School), saxophone and flute player Daniel Hutton (University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Westmont Hilltop) and drummer Jason Olear (Indiana High School) – demonstrate their innovative brand of songcraft on their self-titled debut EP. Wanderlost creates infectious, nuanced melodies and bouncy, grooving arrangements over the EP’s five tracks. Dustin’s piano works in tandem with Daniel’s sax and flute to color and accent each song, backed with finessed rhythms from Mike and Jason. Lyrically, the EP follows a loose theme of life’s risks and ambitions, along with staying the course when things become challenging. The opening track, “Carolina,” rides an elevating melody as Dustin asks questions about achieving success and how to get from point A to point B. “Saints and Sinners” then ponders the struggles of pursuing one’s passions while blocking out the condescending voices of naysayers. On the grooving “Bourbon Street,” the ambition of chasing a dream culminates in taking that one shot and seeing where it leads. Connecting with fickle audiences appears to be the prevalent focus of “Sad Love Story,” as musical performers attempt to reach partiers who could care less about songs regarding heartbreak. Mike’s slinky bass line and Daniel’s flute riff then lead into the EP’s punchy jazz-informed finisher, “The Devil Drowns Them Out,” as Dustin sings a tale of temptation and selling one’s soul to achieve the desired result. Wanderlost keeps things brisk and exciting, as their musicality, versatility and knack for irresistible melodies connect from start to end. The overall production and mix are bright and full, allowing pianos, woodwinds, voices and harmonies to shine. Wanderlost’s introductory set provides an engaging listen, and will make listeners want to go back for more. (This EP can be accessed and purchased through the group’s website, www.wanderlostband.com, as well as through streaming platforms.)
FATAL MAIM – ONE BEYOND THE GRAVE (CD remaster) (Heaven and Hell Records) As the thrash metal movement started to evolve through the 1980s and pioneering bands of this subgenre such as Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax and others gained popularity, a number of area musicians began to explore the thrash metal frontier as well – including the five musicians who would form Altoona’s Fatal Maim. Three former members of the original incarnation of Giornesto – bassist John Scarfone, drummer Bob Watters and guitarist Rich Piccerillo – would team up with brothers Troy Earnest on lead vocals and Jody Earnest on guitar, both whose previous band Anaconda had just disbanded; and Fatal Maim was formed in 1986. The group soon started writing and recording original metal songs, and in 1988 issued “One Beyond the Grave” as an 8-song cassette album that would be distributed as the group toured. As grunge started to take over the world’s fascination in the early 1990s, Fatal Maim soon went their separate ways by 1993. The original tapes from the “One Beyond the Grave” album have stayed intact in the years since, and Pennsylvania-based record label Heaven and Hell Records – which specializes in re-issuing albums from past hard rock bands – released “One Beyond the Grave” as a remastered CD in late 2023. This CD sounds mighty, with Fatal Maim’s song creations sounding off with renewed crispness and force. The group checks all boxes for delivering thrash firepower, with Troy’s soaring and commanding vocals coupled with tough gang shout choruses, wall-of-sound crashing power chords and searing guitar solo work from Jody and Rich, and menacing bass and drum thunder from John and Bob. The group showed some detail to go with their thrash via arrangements on such songs as the disc-opener “Aftermath,” “Molest and Maul,” the fast-firing “For Every Evil” and “No Tomorrow.” Fatal Maim’s strongest blend of firepower and progressive-leaning detail happens on the epic 8-minute title track “One Beyond the Grave.” The group also crafts a melodic and more conventional straight-ahead rocker on “Misery,” and provides a dark power ballad with “Rescue,” featuring guest guitarist Rob Behe (whose basement became a practice space for the group). Beyond the album’s original 8 songs, the CD version also includes four bonus tracks – remastered versions of demo tracks “Fat Chance” and “Victim,” and live performances of “Missing Pieces” and “Peace with the Maker,” both recorded at the “Mountain of Rock” festival near Osceola Mills, PA on Independence Day 1992. This CD re-issue of “One Beyond the Grave” breathes new life into Fatal Maim’s metal music creations, enabling these songs to sound their fullest and most powerful, and hopefully exposing this group’s full firepower to a new generation of fans. (The album can be purchased through www.heavenandhellrecords.com, and can be downloaded through Heaven and Hell’s Bandcamp page.)