Gruntruck - Push

Originally released in 1992, Push was the second full-length release from Seattle’s Gruntruck, a band initially formed in 1989 as more of a side project by vocalist/guitarist Ben McMillan and drummer Norman Scott from the band Skin Yard, guitarist Tommy Niemeyer from The Accused and bassist Tim Paul from Final Warning.  In a perfect world (and with better judgement when it came to signing a record deal) Push would today be mentioned in the same breath as all the other big releases of the Seattle “grunge movement”.  Not only were the band members deeply rooted in the Seattle music scene, they were also listed as an influence by acts as diverse as Alice In Chains and Napalm Death, were hand-picked by Pearl Jam to open for their first hometown headlining show and were the band Roadrunner Records top A&R man Monte Conner went after and signed when they wanted to expand beyond the metal world.  With McMillan’s powerful vocals and the heavy bottom end provided by Scott and Paul, they definitely had a “grunge” sound that was most in line with Soundgarden and occasionally Alice In Chains (“Machine Action”), but the songs are often faster and with a bit more of a metal edge that really sets them apart, thanks largely to Niemeyer’s guitar work.  In the liner notes Matt Vaughan, who was the band’s manager from 1990 to 1996, sums it up when he says “nobody played the jigga-jigga like he did” (check out the opening riffs of tunes like “Tribe” and “Break”).  This reissue from Dissonance Recordings has been remastered and sounds great.  It also includes three bonus tracks, “Crucifunkin’”, a really infectious tune that adds a bit of a funk groove at times, and “Flesh Fever”, both of which were recorded in the summer of 1991 and were initially included on the Roadrunner reissue of their debut release Inside Yours.  The third is a 16 track demo of “Machine Action”.  When the album was released, it didn’t sell as well as both the band and the label expected, and with all the other Seattle bands exploding with their major label deals, the band decided they wanted out of their deal.  Unfortunately, the label refused, and it turned into three year lawsuit, which the band ultimately won, but took its toll on them and also saw Paul and Scott kicked out of the band.  In 1996 they released a three song EP recorded with a new rhythm section and then reunited in the late 90’s to record a third album, which sat in the vaults until finally being released in 2017.  Sadly, McMillan passed away in 2008 from complications of diabetes and never got to see that happen.  If you missed out the first time around, I would strongly recommend giving Push a listen. 

(Dissonance Recordings)