Artist: The Deal Album: CutThroat Label: Facedown Records Rating: 6 out of 10

Tired of all the watered-down, over-harmonized pop punk saturating the airwaves and MTV? How about lead singers with nothing to say except “girls are mean to me”? Then The Deal is for you. On their second full-length album, CutThroat, the band’s throttling brand of street-punk and no-holds-barred lyrics cut through all the trappings surrounding today’s “punk” scene to take the music back to its roots. Opener “C-Lo” comes throttling right out of the gate with driving drums, fierce lead guitar work and a rousing chorus. “It’s a gamble how these sharks play,” frontman Collin spits atop a chorus of classic-style gang vocals. “Circlin’ around our graves./ They don’t pull any punches with our lives./ We will not forfeit and we will not be deceived.” The Deal keep the adrenaline pumping throughout CutThroat with similarly rough-hewn tracks like “Vultures” and “Rise Up,” both of which pair hard-and-fast verses with big, anthemic choruses. When they lighten up a bit, the band is equally effective though. First single “Richard Bachman” comes the closest to being pop-punk with its stripped-down verses that give way to a catchy, Dropkick Murphys-style chorus. For good measure, they even throw in a sweet old-school solo, a prime example of the fine lead guitar work that’s in evidence throughout CutThroat. But occasionally, The Deal’s relentless energy does cause them to stumble a bit. It’s not that the band’s members can’t handle the blistering tempos - it’s just that 1:15-long barn-burners like “Cool Hand Luke” and “The Great Deception” fly by so fast there’s no time for a memorable hook or riff to grab hold. The lyrics are another story, though, as the latter song offers a powerful message of hope - albeit one that might sound grim on the surface. “Look forward to a perfect life with no more sorrow, no more strife,” Collin sings. “I find my refuge outside of this world./ There’s nothing to offer me./ It’s dead and dying and desolate/ And I won’t sing its praise or take its offering.” However, the album’s best tracks work because they show The Deal is capable of achieving the perfect balance of punk fury and songwriting craft. If they can take the time to construct each song as carefully as standouts like the aforementioned “C-Lo” and “Hang ‘Em High” on future releases, this band will really be a force to be reckoned with. For now, just crank up CutThroat and enjoy a 28-minute shot of musical adrenaline. - Todd Thatcher