CKY – Carver City

(Roadrunner, 2009)

Carver City sadly wasn’t quite the hit it should have been for CKY. Released in 2009, it failed to capitalise on the success and support the band had with their first three albums due to problems within the band prior to its release and later Roadrunner Records who did a weak job promoting it.

That’s not to say the content is poor however; it still has that unmistakable CKY sound with longtime band members Deron Miller (vocals), Chad I Ginsburg (guitar), and Jess Magera (drums) joined by Matt Deis on bass. Deis left soon after and was replaced by Matt “Matty J” Jaunitis.

Opening track Hellions On Parade continues the legacy of 96 Bitter Beings and Escape From Hellview, transporting the listener straight into a horror movie. Listening on, it becomes clear that this is more than just a collection of tunes stuck together but rather a concept album revolving around the dark happenings of the seemingly pleasant Carver City. …And She Never Returned tells of the disappearance of a girl, while Boardwalk Body (which Miller based on a real life experience of his) later follows up on this with the discovery of a body by the water.

Songs such as Rats In The Infirmary and A#1 Roller Rager still have the usual CKY skater/stoner rock sound but the vocals and subject matter give the impression of a dark spirit watching and lurking within Carver City. Karmaworks and the instrumental Fisherman’s Wharf are especially haunting, Old Carver’s Bones is straight up terrifying, and The Era Of An End sees them once again include a slower, hold up your lighter type song near the end of an album; it can hold its own next to Don’t Hold Your Breath but won’t be knocking Close Yet Far off their setlist.

This could quite possibly be the best release from CKY; it still has that distinctive sound with abundant use of moog synth with the ongoing storyline giving it an intelligent edge encouraging the listener to hear the whole album. The one letdown is the cheesy video (above) for A#1 Roller Rager.