Steadfast’s most recent album Transmitters was released July 10, 2020, but as noted, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted its distribution and coverage.  Had it received the distribution and coverage that it deserved last year, it no doubt would have become one of the year’s top new independent and punk rock albums.  That is proven in part through its featured arrangements.  The arrangements in question are punk rock at its purest.  Throughout the course of the album’s 11 songs, the arrangements immediately lend themselves to works from the likes of Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, and to a lesser extent, Green Day.  As a matter of fact, if audiences were to hear any part of this album without knowing it was Steadfast, the vocals alone would lead listeners to believe they were hearing DKM co-vocalist Al Barr or even Rancid front man Tim Armstrong.  The addition of the catchy guitars, driving time keeping, and rich bass line does just as much in each song to make the arrangements bear such a close similarity.  Even with all of this in mind, the arrangements do still bear their own identity separate from those of the aforementioned bands.  That is revealed through a close listen.  It is just that the similarities are that close between Steadfast and its more well-known counterparts.  All in all, the arrangements featured in Transmitters prove to be reason enough in themselves for audiences to hear the album.  They are collectively just one part of what makes Transmitters successful.  The lyrical themes that accompany the album’s musical arrangements add another layer of enjoyment to the album.

Read the whole review: http://mayhemrockstarmagazine.us/punk-purists-will-enjoy-steadfasts-latest-lp/https://louderthanwar.com/steadfast-htx-old-scars-single-review/

- Philip Sayblack
https://philspicks.wordpress.com/