.webp "The Volcanics-In 3-D")
Surf Snapshot - REVERB TANK FULL /
🌊 Style: High-Octane SoCal Surf / Instrumental Garage Rock
💿 Record Label: Hi-Tide Recordings (Release: March 20, 2026)
🎸 The Drip: Biting tremolo, driving rhythm sections, and classic first-wave reverb
🇺🇸 Hometown: San Gabriel Valley, California
“In 3-D stands as a crowning achievement for The Volcanics, offering a seamless, exhilarating journey through modern surf sound. Each track pulses with creative rhythms and spirited guitar work, capturing the heart of classic surf while infusing the album with fresh energy and vibrant color. It’s a testament to the band’s skill and evolution within the genre."
🎧 Highly Recommended Tracks: Track 2 ('Double-Cross'), Track 7 ('Detonation'), Track 10 ('Jack Knife')
Formed in 2001 in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley, The Volcanics are an instrumental surf and garage rock band. They deliver the precise, high-octane energy of the classic SoCal surf scene, infused with a bold, contemporary edge.
In 3-D is their latest recording, adding to their considerable catalog dating back to 2006, which includes five other full-length recordings, several singles, and EPs.
The first thing that grabs you is their retro cover. The three band members are portrayed in a movie theater, wearing the 3D glasses as they did in the 50s.
“Loose Screw” brings the energy right away. The superb twang and rhythm pull you right in and hold you tight as the bass and drums lay down a solid foundation.
“Double-Cross” puts a bit more gas in the reverb tank with variable tones. They are flying with this high-octane mover. The lead guitar transitional tremolo spans many directions with pinpoint, biting accuracy. There is some hooting and hollering to give it that frat-rah-rah effect. Most excellent!
“Nick of Time” has a softer edge than the previous track, but the reverb tank is full once again, with the bottom end driving things along quite nicely. Resonating tones maintain their high energy in different ways on every track.
“Bingo!” steps straight out of the 60s and begins like a familiar Ventures track, with the bass locked in step with the drums matching every move of the six-string. Then the lead guitar cuts away and runs, then changes again to the “in the tank” sound.
“Charlie Horse” returns to the more mellow but still rocking sound. The bass is superb here, as are the drums. This powerful trio stretches out as much as they can within one genre. It comes at you in different tempos and rhythms in every track. This consistency in sound continues to hold on to you.
“Spin Out” switches over to good old-fashioned rock with some vocals, and The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean come to mind for sure! Many instrumental bands lack singers, but this one does not! Welcome to early-60s surf-vocal pop.
“Detonation” begins with an explosion and a loud yell, then launches into some surf raunch licks. This is some guitar-shredding surf-style (think Dick Dale) going on here. The bass and drums kill it, too. The hardest track so far and a real high-energy rocker.
“Stutter Step” carries a fantastic toe-tapping rhythm, and the guitar’s reverb is filled with the echoing tone synonymous with the genre. This is a perfect classic first-wave surf instro track.
“Hall Pass” starts with voices telling you the
storyline, then launches into some fine guitar picking and reverb. A reach-back
to school days and getting in trouble because you don’t have a hall pass. Great
energy and simple surf rock.
“Jack Knife” cranks things back up to their higher-intensity surf rock, with the guitar transitioning from hard and driving to mellower, more flowing, then back again. I must give full credit to the rhythm section as well, as they continue to stay the course with their fast-moving passages. They are on fire here!
“Booby Trap” kicks it back several notches with measured rhythms and poignant, purposeful guitar licks, once again showing how diverse they can be. The feeling is one of trepidation. This is the longest track at 3:25, and it sounds like a Halloween soundtrack. What evil lurks around the next corner?
“Sucker Punch” closes out these twelve tracks, you guessed it, with more energy and color. This is their trademark on this recording. Their retro surf instro sound lingers in your ears in a good way. They have their sound down cold, and this is a great way to wind up one fine recording with superb drip.
In 3-D stands as a crowning achievement for The Volcanics, offering a seamless, exhilarating journey through modern surf sound. Each track pulses with creative rhythms and spirited guitar work, capturing the heart of classic surf while infusing the album with fresh energy and vibrant color. It’s a testament to the band’s skill and evolution within the genre.
The Band:
Frankie De La Torre - Guitar
Jarrod Keith - Bass
Ben Marazzi - Drums
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder
June 7, 2026
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