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iTunes Review

Jokingly referring to their sound as “graphicdesignercore” in the early days, Baltimore trio Double Dagger seem to now be accepting their place as simply a damn good punk band, a younger cousin to nearby D.C.’s early scene (Fugazi, Minor Threat). Yes, vocalist Nolen Strals (a graphic artist) sounds a bit like Ian McKaye, with a direct, insistent yelp that is utterly captivating, but his chemistry with bassist Bruce Willen (also a designer) and drummer Denny Bowen stirs up a fresh, energetic brew that is stunningly powerful without a guitar. The sound is stripped and clean, yet the edges around the bass lines — double-tracked, manipulated — feel gritty and worn and dangerous, the percussive assaults and Strals’ indignant yowling pummel any smooth spots into a pulp; dissonance and melody go hand in hand. Once you feel the visceral gut punch of  “Vivre sans temps mort,” “No Allies,” or “The Lie/the Truth,” you’ll wonder what took so long for a Dischord/D.C. revival scene to start up: everything old is new again, and that’s something to celebrate when you’re talking about Double Dagger.