Austin’s Team Trust has released their debut album, Treat Box, a collection of unpredictable art-punk songs that are fun and fresh, weird yet contained. The band expertly chooses moments to let their dissonant-leaning songs unravel suddenly, while other unravelings unfold more gradually. The three-piece is comprised of drummer JD Brunson III, bassist Dan Mabray, and guitarist Elder Kornberg; who all share vocal duties, making the music feel conversational and collaborative. This theme is echoed in the band’s live show, where they encourage audience members to trade lighters or perform trust falls with each other.
The opening track on Treat Box, “Wuggis,” introduces you to what you can expect from the album’s remaining tracks. An unconventional bassline coupled with the hook “running naked through the trees,” tees up the rest of the songs. “Together, Together” melds wacky vocals against a variety of backdrops – several sharp turns guide the song’s path to a few different corners, but it all comes together in the end. Perhaps that is why they named the song like so.
“Tuesday Night Fever” is a more meandering track, with elday’s feminine vocals sliding right on through the noise. A brief breakdown at the end proves Team Trust can handle off-kilter sounds just as much as they can handle the heavier riffs demanded of them. Elday’s voice returns in “Beside the Tree,” a spoken-word-driven track that talks the listener through what it means to trust another person, what it means to trust yourself, and ultimately questions what it means to have integrity. On brand with the band’s core values, the song asks listeners to reflect and actively participate – reminding us that trust is not just a theme, but a practice and a mindset.
The interluding track “Mojo” carries the upbeat, punk energy of “Got all Day” into “Underwater,” a spacey, slowcore song that boasts as the second-longest on the record. “AZ Tea” closes out Treat Box, balancing its garage-punk blast with a subtle familiar sound that fades out the song, inviting you back for another listen already. Treat Box is a debut album that feels both spontaneous and intentional, a rare balance to strike in experimental punk. Although concise, Team Trust has crafted an album that warrants repeat listens with songs that aptly show who they are as a band. You can believe that they have fun making their music, and it is equally as fun to listen to.
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