Love Fiend, a 4-piece rock outfit from Los Angeles, release their new LP, Handle With Care, via In the Red Records. The album has elements of '80s synth punk woven throughout the 10 songs (31 min, 50 sec)...

Handle With Care is an interesting rock album, which dips its toes into punk. It's obvious the band are heavily influences by '80s synth rock/punk and the results are a delight for those of us who lived through that time period.

There are engaging hooks in tracks like 'Pizza Cabal' (which, incidentally reminded me of the style of Gary Newman's 1979 single 'Cars'), and there's an incredibly catch bass riff in 'Got Bad').

'Neu Testament' was, for me, the standout track. It cements the band's ability to provide a memorable punk rock track that feels timeless.

Overall, Love Fiend has done an excellent job of delivering a mix of retro sounding modern tracks that you'll be drawn back to time and time again.

7

Nick Smithson