These days, a decent, straight-forward rock and roll band is a commodity that’s tough to come by. Gimmicks are the name of the game in the industry, so when the occasional no-nonsense rock band does come along, it makes them and their music that much more refreshing. Such is the case with Cape Cod natives Highly Suspect. Comprised of twin brothers Rich and Ryan Meyer, along with their best friend Johnny Stevens, this trio, now based in Brooklyn, fits that description quite well, and it shows on their debut full-length effort, Mister Asylum.

The Brooklyn trio wastes no time, right away kicking into a groovy riff on the album opener and title track. The highlight of “Mister Asylum,” however, is the searing guitars in its chorus. The fast shuffle of “Lost” sets the foundation for more quality riffing, which really heats up on the bridge and again at the end of the song. “Lydia,” the album’s lead single, opens with a slow, more subdued intro before transforming into a paradox of sorts, as the track feels both upbeat and like a slow-burner, all at once. The result is a fantastic rocker perfect for radio, already having taken the airwaves by storm a few months back.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev-bR9ii7Gs[/youtube]

“Bath Salts” lacks much of the gusto of the songs before it, but otherwise isn’t half bad. The high-octane rock returns on “23,” but the intensity doesn’t really pick up until the last minute and a half or so of the song. It fades out just as quickly as it fades in, and before long, the angst-ridden “Mom” makes its entrance. Here, the shuffle returns, prominent as ever, in addition to a killer beat which itself oscillates between half-time and a full-time feel. This reflective foot-stomper is one of the best songs on the entire record.

Its immediate successor, “Bloodfeather,” somehow even tops that, thanks in part to its quick-paced nature and the stellar guitarwork near the end. “Fuck Me Up” and “Vanity” both kind of fall flat, especially after the two powerhouse songs in front of them. The last track on the record, however, picks up right where the others left off. From the roaring guitars to the monstrous bassline, “Claudeland” is a fine way to close Mister Asylum. What seems like an abrupt ending channels into an instrumental outro, where the trio goes nuts one final time.

In short, Highly Suspect’s full-length debut does not disappoint. Only a few tunes from the record miss the mark, but the others that don’t more than make up for those “weak links.” Mister Asylum is pure rock and roll; no gimmicks necessary. While certainly not perfect, it’s still a great album overall, and living proof that rock is alive and well.

Score: 4/5

Highly Suspect on Facebook | Mister Asylum on iTunes