Electric Citizen
Helltown
'Helltown', the third album by Electric Citizen is, in many ways, a homecoming. While the title may seem fittingly metal (if not exceedingly so), it actually has real relevance. 'Helltown' (all one word), while also multidimensional, is named after the Cincinnati, OH neighborhood in which the band lives, practices, and where the album was written, recorded and mixed. Now known more prosaically as Northside, 'Helltown' earned its name in the 1800s due to its reputation for rowdy taverns frequented by the neighborhood of factory workers and immigrants. Inasmuch as 'Helltown' is an ode to the band's home and its buried past, it also represents a return to the grittier sound of their 2014 debut, 'Sateen'. Furthermore, it marks the return of original bassist Nick Vogelpohl, who rejoins vocalist Laura Dolan, guitarist Ross Dolan and drummer Nate Wagner. It's a fun, tough, dirty rock'n'roll album.