As summer begins its hazy descent over my hometown and the lack of big yellow buses makes my morning commute that much easier, I cut off down a side road and reminisce about getting out of school on warm days and, more prominently, summer vacation. It’s funny how connected we are to the seasons, instantly recognizing the warm signs as the uncomfortable push of life in the busy North Eastern states seems to calm down for a few months. It sounds like bliss, or an awesome nap. As it goes, the slowed tempo breaks as the daylight dies and a thumping beat pounds through my brain. Metal, beer, and uncouth acts of debauchery are the name of the game. That being the case, the soundtrack, at least in my group of friends, would be an album like Dr. Acula’s newest release Nation.

Now, I haven’t been an avid metal head since I’ve been about 17-18, but something about this album found my inner demon screaming in delight. Honestly, I didn’t think, “THIS IS AMAZING” at any one point and to be frank (definitely not Fred or John) the mangy looking character’s uncanny resemblance, on the front of the album, to Eddy from Iron Maiden kind of worried me but, like I said, I’m not a metal head. What I did think about, however, was how this band is perfectly able to put me in my own summery haze; to let my inhibitions be carried away with the overall ferocity and volley of de-tuned guitars, pounding drums and primal bellows emanating from the natives of Long Island, NY. Damn, it feels good to be a gangster. ‘Cuz, if there’s one thing I like the most about music, it’s how it makes me feel, and these guys are a huge helping of “I do what I want and I don’t give a F**K!”

You can pick up a copy of “Nation” out TODAY via Victory Records here!