Surf Instro Review: The Penetrators-Locked & Loaded

The long-awaited Penetrators album is finally here, ready for your ears to consume. Locked & Loaded is standing by to renew your faithful addiction to one of the best surf-instro groups making music today. The wait was worth it, and the satisfaction of this release is palpable.

So, are you ready for an on-the-edge-of-your-seat action-adventure spectacular? The Penetrators are your answer to a musical James Bond. Their high-energy instrumental brand of built-for-musical-soundtrack spy thriller sound will leave you exhilarated and pumped up. With a deadly aim for your instrumental tendencies, this collection of surf-instro-spy-rock will satisfy your every need.

Rip Thrillby (guitar) rivals the intensity and note-for-note perfectionism of Ivan Pongracic of The Space Cossacks. That is not an easy task. He doesn’t have the explosiveness of Pongracic. His playing is more restrained to suit the style of the instrumental group. All things considered, his performance is marvelous. Having great rhythm guitarists enables great lead guitarists to excel. Spanky Twangler (rhythm guitar) lays down waves of exceptional rhythm guitar for Rip to surf upon. And it goes without saying…you need a kick ass rhythm section to create great instro music. Trace Luger (bass) and Illya (Sticks) Stechkin (drums) get the job done.

The two songs that caught my ear were “Triple-Dog Dare” and “Locked & Loaded.”

“Triple-Dog Dare” is a flavorful tune that showcases the group's ability to blend different genre influences, adding an element of surprise and intrigue. Meanwhile, the title track “Locked & Loaded” brings 007 right into your living room, complete with his martini, shaken not stirred. This track features a sexy saxophone lurking in the background and a seductive organ that draws you in even deeper. It’s a delightful surprise that the group should incorporate more often. It sounded wonderful. What can I say? I Love this stuff.

Every track is top-notch twang and reverb. This one is a real keeper. It's a sure-fire surf-instro classic.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
March 11, 2001

Tracks:

01. Checkpoint Zero

02. 50 Bucks A Midget

03. Redlined

04. Midnight Run

05. Deception Bay

06. Another Time, Another Place

07. Codename: Gypsy

08. Speed Bump

09. Single-Malt Stomp

10. Triple-Dog Dare

11. Mariner

12. Locked & Loaded

13. Southeast Surf Syndicate Theme