B-Side Guys

Subterranean Deadbeats’ “Hang Me Out” is a disorienting plunge into the murky depths of garage rock’s psyche. This track doesn’t so much play as it does drag you through a soundscape that’s equal parts exhilarating and unsettling, like a rip current beneath seemingly placid waters.

From the outset, the “chainsaw guitars” gnaw at the edges of consciousness, creating a relentless tension that underpins the entire song. It’s a sound that doesn’t just occupy space but seems to carve it out, reshaping the listener’s perception with each serrated riff. The effect is less about melody and more about visceral impact, as if the band is determined to physically move you through sheer sonic force.

Interspersed throughout are moments of “woozy blues,” creating a disorienting contrast that mimics the vertigo of altered states. These brief respites from the onslaught serve not to calm but to disorient further, like surfacing for a quick breath before being pulled back under. It’s in these moments that the Deadbeats showcase their mastery of dynamics, proving they’re not just noisemakers but craftsmen of tension and release.

At the forefront of this aural assault is Taranto’s voice, a versatile instrument that shapeshifts throughout the track. It’s described as a “howling drawl,” but that hardly captures its full range. At times, it’s a plaintive whine cutting through the din; at others, it takes on the quality of an “elegiac lament,” as if mourning the very chaos it’s helping to create. This vocal performance is the human element in the maelstrom, the relatable core that keeps the listener engaged amidst the tumult.

“Hang Me Out” is not a passive listening experience; it’s a full-body immersion into Subterranean Deadbeats’ world of controlled chaos. The band has crafted a track that demands attention, eschewing easy hooks for a more primal connection. It’s the sonic equivalent of a dark night of the soul, uncomfortable yet cathartic, leaving the listener feeling purged and slightly disoriented as the final notes recede.