Melee

Take one listen to Dogleg’s debut LP, *Melee*, and their simple mission statement becomes abundantly clear: “Play fast.” The Michigan-based band began as a bedroom project of singer/guitarist Alex Stoitsiadis, but quickly morphed into a four-piece known for ferocious live shows at which the band’s mantra was taped onto Stoitsiadis’ guitar like a warning. On *Melee*, the band plays fast but does so with remarkable precision and subtlety. The emo strains remain, but the band meets the genre somewhere closer to post-punk than pop. Opener “Kawasaki Backflip” propulses around a dance-inflected drum beat, while “Fox” is built around a chorus that remains long after the album ends. Lyrics are never sung, only yelled. It’s a feat few achieve, but a spin through the album feels like an hour in a mosh pit.

Dogleg is: Alex Stoitsiadis - guitars, main vocals Chase Macinski - bass, backing vocals Parker Grissom - drums, backing vocals

The thrilling debut from the Michigan rock band burns hot and bright. It’s a record that’s as melodic as it is physical, where pent-up aggression turns into physical liberation.

'Melee' is a worthy debut for a very promising band.

Dogleg built up quite a bit of buzz ahead of their debut album. Three years after the Michigan punk band first started making noise, they si...