INADREAM – Strange Words

Inadream, which is a German outfit dabbling in 80s inspired post-punk, released this energetic record of theirs via Echozone just a few days ago, and it certainly has its merits and some catchy and cool moments to it without being a decidedly great or noteworthy slab of raunchy rock.

The raw riffs and relatively straightforward arrangements make this sophomore effort of theirs an easily accessible piece of work with a charming sense of immediacy to it. The snappy title track and the engaging “Die Away” mark the highlights on the disc, but cuts such as “Dead Souls,” “Horns and Halos,” and “Unleash the Beast” possess a lovely punk vibe that reminds me slightly of the Clash and the Damned, which make them rather enjoyable affairs. Lack of consistency and the occasionally underwhelming vocals and melodies result in the album being uneven and often losing momentum, and the absolute nadir of Strange Words comes in the shape of “Two of a Kind,” which is outright dreadful. Good thing they included the aforementioned “Die Away” then, right?

Strange Words is a mildly entertaining output in the overall perspective, but the absence of truly remarkable qualities does render it somewhat forgettable to a certain extent. Nevertheless, it contains a handful of kick-ass tunes, and there are heaps of potential on display here, so it will be interesting to see what these chaps do next.