Gleam Garden creates an aged punk rock sound in Brilliant Nightmare that is indeed brilliant and sounds like a band that’s wiser and older than their years. The lead singer’s voice is slightly raspy and deep, and the group could easily draw comparisons to bands like Social Distortion, Rancid, The Strokes and Rocket From the Crypt.
That’s pretty great company to keep, and Gleam Garden bust out some shaky screams on Brilliant Nightmare that will melt your punk heart. The heart of rock ‘n roll lies deep in their sound too, and sometimes it ventures into greaser rockabilly. You can hear it in tracks like “Dazed By Wine” and the slow step “Everyone Goes Back.”
You want faster rock? Songs like “Internet Addiction Disorder,” “Digging” and “Twilight Strange Vehicle” are fist pumpers thanks to the dude who looks like Danzig on the drums. This guy knows how to keep a beat. Want instant classics? “This” and “Under Cover of Nightmare” hits the spot.
The secret to good punk rock lies in its ability to remain concise. Gleam Garden’s Brilliant Nightmare shows its smarts and clocks in around the 30 minute mark. It will leave you wanting more. More!
Brilliant Nightmare is a shining 7.5 out of 10. I highly recommend purchasing it from US iTunes for 9.99.
