Stunt Drummer: "Warm Up, Tiger" (2026) Vinyl Review

Stunt Drummer, a band based in Portland, Oregon, put out its first full-length album in 2023, and has now followed that with Warm Up, Tiger. The album title is a combination of two song titles, one from the first side of the record, one from the second. So I guess there are two title tracks to this one. And while we're talking about titles and names, the band's name comes from the fact that different folks would fill in on drums in the early days, and even after the release of the first album. The drummer on this album, Paul J. Leaver, did not play on the band's first album, a self-titled release. The band is also made up of Erik Becker on guitar and vocals, Marty Buckenmeyer on guitar and vocals, and Ethan Schee on bass. Ezra Meredith, who recorded and mixed the album at The Deer Lodge, helps out on these track, and is credited with "Various Bells, Whistles, Howls, Antics and Flamethrowers." Someone might have to explain to me where the flamethrowers come in, but certainly there is some heat to these tracks, some power. The music is a combination of punk and garage rock elements, often with an intense, heavy sound. The album features all original material.

Side A

The record's first side, which is labeled the "Stunt Side," opens with "Pool," which comes on strong, with a heavy, raw and insistent force. There is something frightening as Erik repeats, "Everyone in this place is gonna drown." A mantra of doom, and there is something of an aggressive attitude. But, and maybe I'm just crazy, there also seems something strangely, darkly humorous about that, when you remember that they're singing about a swimming pool. And, hey, we all are doomed, and there's no escaping that. So have a little fun. That's followed by "Chinese Windows." It's interesting that each of these songs has a line that is repeated. Here it is "Chinese windows, they don't fit like they used to," the very first line of the song, repeated several times. What a strange line to be in a song at all, but to be repeated like a chant? It's a song about architecture. And it is delivered with a great energy that comes rushing at us. "He makes his bosses happy/And Peter gets a bone/And now he builds his empire/The model for his class."

"Warm Up" is the song from the first side whose title contributes to the album title. This one has a great beat, a cool groove, so the raw scream of the vocals comes almost as a surprise. There is an intensity, and almost a desperation, to the vocals. And before the end there is the demand, "Get up get up get up" and then "Warm up warm up warm up." And it's over. The first side concludes with "Voodoo," which begins in a surprisingly softer place, though we sense something is nearby, coiling, getting ready to strike. The slow pace of it contributes to an ominous sensation, which is cool. "Are you a witch and will you fly, let's push you off the cliff and see if you try." There is something haunting, even mesmerizing here. This one too has a line that is repeated, "What is up with all the voodoo dolls," and it is during the repetition of that line that the energy increases, the vocal approach changing from an ache to a howl. And from there, the track begins to roll right over us, and then it cannot be stopped. Incredible. This is one of my personal favorite tracks.

Side B

The second side, labeled the "Drummer Side," opens with "Vortex," which is interesting, the way it takes us through different places, different expectations and feelings, even before the vocals come in. The first lines are delivered in a fairly straightforward way. And the very first line, "The vortex is nice this time of year," is undeniably funny, and the straightforward aspect of its delivery makes it funnier to me. The chorus is then shouted, and it becomes frightening. This track ends in mellower territory. It is followed by "Paul The Pear Farmer," which has a delicious beat, and a sort of 1960s element to the guitar work at the beginning. It's a strange song, and there is something scary in the lines, "Paul spent a lot of time down in his room/Down in his room sharpening his knife." But the madness might be coming from within rather than without. Who can keep a hold on reality anymore? Then "Switch" begins with a strong beat, and quickly becomes delightfully strange, many things happening at once, and that bass is so damn good. There is a fierce energy to the vocals, like his life depends on it, or our lives do. "It's got nothing to do with everything/Start it over from the end, turn it on turn it off." It then slowly pushes through, until the vocals return for one last quick burst at the end.

"White Tiger" is the song from the second side that contributes to the album's title, and it contains some good stuff on guitar. "Did you see my car, I think it's blue/Did you cut my throat, yeah, I would've too." This music feels like it exists right on the edge, and if you throw yourself too far in any direction, bones and light will shatter. "Did you see my ghost?" The line is repeated. An answer is needed, is demanded. I love the drumming on this track. The record concludes with "Dress," this one opening in a mellower place, creating a very cool vibe. And maybe we need this, a space to relax a bit after the previous intensity. This one is like a late-night city street. There is even saxophone on this track, Tom Ricciardi delivering some excellent work. "You were insane then/Your favorite word was/Isolation." I especially love the guitar work here, helping to make the track another of my favorites. This is totally delicious. "You only wanted my attention/When you wore that dress."

Record Track List

Side A

1. Pool
2. Chinese Windows
3. Warm Up
4. Voodoo

Side B

1. Vortex
2. Paul The Pear Farmer
3. Switch
4. White Tiger
5. Dress

Warm Up, Tiger was released on April 17, 2026 on Cavity Search Records.