There was a time when no self-respecting punk would admit to liking metal music, let alone playing it without being mocked, or worse, getting beat up for it. Thank goodness those days are over. Charger is a metal and rock’n’roll-influenced project spearheaded by Matt Freeman of Rancid. The band’s roots are deeply seeded in Motörhead worship but of course you can hear some NWOBHM and thrash metal muses keeping the motor running. Every song is a winner with “Stand, Fight, or Die” being the crown jewel. “Summon the Demon” features the King Diamond vocal stylings (courtesy of Jake Nunn from Hell Fire) that often get mocked by metal-hating punks but are in fact what this record needs more of. Horns up for Charger. –Juan Espinosa (Pirates Press, piratespress.com, charger-eb.bandcamp.com)