I thought I knew what Strung Out sounded like, but Twisted by Design completely rewired that assumption. This album is heavier, darker, and far more dynamic than I expected. The sequencing alone floored me; each track seems to devolve tonally into something more visceral and introspective, like watching a light dim slowly.
Jim Cherry’s bass tone hits like a hammer, thunderous and present, constantly pushing against the guitars instead of hiding beneath them. And Jason Cruz’s vocals are wildly versatile. There were moments I genuinely thought I was hearing multiple singers. His range of delivery, from gritty urgency to melodic despair, gives each song its own fingerprint.
But the real gut punch comes from the lyrics. These aren’t just confessions; they read like someone trying to reason with their own demons. Every verse feels like an inner monologue balancing right at the edge, using songwriting as its own lifeline. For a band that can sound this powerful musically, pairing it with something this emotionally raw is next level. Twisted by Design might be one of the most honest punk records I’ve heard so far.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
2:15 - "Too Close to See"
11:43 - "Exhumation of Virginia Madison"
16:47 - "Deville"
24:12 - "Mind of My Own"
30:20 - "Reason to Believe"
40:08 - "Crossroads"
46:52 - "Paperwalls"
56:50 - "Ice Burn"
1:02:48 - "Ultimate Devotion"
1:08:29 - "King Alvarez"
1:13:29 - "Asking For The World"
1:19:40 - "Tattoo"
1:24:10 - "Just Like Me"
1:26:56 - "Matchbook"
1:36:09 - Final Thoughts