Death Valley Girls - Glow In The Dark (Limited Edition of 1500 on Unite; Multiply & Conquer Splatter Vinyl)

Death Valley Girls' sophomore album Glow in the Dark is a white-hot distillation of their sound and spirit -a jittery and jubilant joyride of barnburner guitar riffage, goosebump-inducing choral hooks, and pounding rhythms. You often hear people talking about how a certain artist saved their life. You also frequently hear people talk about how certain shows can be borderline spiritual experiences. Sure, it might be hyperbole, but any music head knows those experiences are very real. And for Death Valley Girls, the mortal stakes and transcendental power of music was at the core of their mission.

The band quite literally began as a haven for vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Bonnie Bloomgarden and guitarist Larry Schemel as they navigated getting clean from hard drugs. It was a kind of rebirth, an outlet for a new way of living. And with that newfound appreciation for life came a thirst for communal celebration. Their shows took on a mystical fervor. They were a pure manifestation of all the great moments of rock n’ roll the adrenalized swagger of the electric pioneers, the razor edge of those early metal masters, the rough-hewn heft of first-generation punk with any hint of nihilism swapped out for an affirmation of life.

Up until now, Glow in the Dark has been as elusive and mysterious as the forces behind its title, with physical manifestations of the album being out of print since 2016.