Alien Snatch! is off to a flying start this year—first that killer new Küken 7″, and now a new Sweet Reaper LP that’s bound to turn heads. Still Nothing is the California band’s fourth record, and to my ears it’s their most ambitious, confident, and fully realized release yet.

Sweet Reaper stretch out their garage punk playbook here, taking a more patient approach and letting the songs breathe more than ever. The production is noticeably crisper and more hi-fi than before, but never at the expense of energy or grit. This isn’t eleven versions of the same song—it’s a varied, rockin’ 26 minutes that keeps things moving and interesting throughout.

Still Nothing sounds like a band realizing they don’t have to rush every song to hit hard. It’s the same Sweet Reaper you know, just hitting wider turns and landing cleaner punches—the kind of record that pulls new people in (fans of Jacuzzi Boys, Vacation, and Marked Men should feel right at home) and gives longtime fans something extra to chew on.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Alien Snatch!