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Popular punk band Ghoti Hook has ended a nine-year run by releasing a 6-song self-titled EP that is not only their best album, but is one of the best full-on rock albums in the market.

Ghoti Hook has matured into a straight-ahead "old-school," three-piece rock and roll band. The album seethes with energy, recalling a time when rock was played just for the fun of it. Expanding on influences from their last album, Two Years to Never, this EP is filled with fast and dirty rock riffing, anthemic, fist-in-the-air choruses, and Joel Bell’s passionate and melodic singing.

"Darling" and "Robert Paulson" both feature choruses as immediately singable as anything on the radio, while "Let It Ride" boasts a Vegas groove while Bell yells "I’m feelin’ lucky, I’m goin’ in / double down, twenty-one to win." "Ghost in the Graveyard" throws atmospheric vocals into the mix, and opener "Drop Dead" features some of the crunchiest guitar licks to ever grace a disc (in the Christian market, at least). Adam Neubauer’s pounding drums makes the song rattle around in your brain like a pinball machine on steroids.

There are very few complaints with Ghoti Hook. "You Bring Me Down" offers nothing new compared to the rest of the album, but the major problem is that the disc is too short. Ghoti Hook has just hit their stride with this EP, and it’s a shame this is their last release. But you can’t go wrong with an album cover that features bassist Jamie Tolosa sporting a Denison Marrs shirt. How cool is that!? 

John Wilson 6/19/2002