Build Them To Break, a well established San Francisco punk rock powerhouse, has been dwelling within the ranks of the West Coast music punk scene for some time now. Driven by midwest banality and transplanting to the Bay Area as a result, they engage in a high-octane blast of melodic sound with lyrics that weave tales of recession, love, loss, youth and the personal struggle to simply exist while the greater world feels like it’s falling apart.
Their sophomore album Lucky Strike dropped in 2019 with the help of M Perfect Records. A gritty bass line introduces the album and immediately explodes into the title track followed by 7 more melodic numbers showcasing the unique strength of each member. Fronted by singer and bassist, Chris Shearer, the vocals deliver tightly syncopated lyrics in rhythmic phrasing and cadence while his bass steadily punches along at a breakneck pace. Lead guitarist, Charley Arents, accompanies Chris on harmony backups while driving a wall of heavy guitar tone with guitarist, Mike Loftus. Locking this all together while propelling it forward, is the deliberate and surgical precision-like drumming style of Kevin Rypma. Combining these elements has made “Lucky Strike” the band’s strongest release to date.