Over the past several years, Casanovas in Heat (which includes members of Bloodkrow Butcher and Male Nurses) have amassed a smallish following for their gritty yet affecting melodic punk, and hopefully this 7” will get them the attention that they’ve deserved. I’ve been checking the site of the ever-reliable Katorga Works for weeks waiting for this single to finally be available, and now that the day is finally here I cannot say enough good things about this release. These two hooky tracks (one of which appeared several years ago on their demo tape) are both exactly what we’ve come to expect from this crew, and it’s immensely satisfying to see the results of their refined sound and ever-improving songwriting. Their music is still rooted in powerpoppy punk (they’ve covered local legends The Neighborhoods’ immortal “No Place Like Home”) filtered through melodic 80’s mainstays coming out of hardcore like The Replacements, Husker Du, and Naked Raygun as well as more modern melodic punk, and it all congeals into a nearly perfect whole. Chorused guitars jangle and intertwine, the bass rips off melodic runs (check the unbelievable bass hook before the first verse of “Destiny St.”), and the drums explode with busy fills and driving kick-drum work giving the songs an intense propulsiveness. Over all of this, frontman Davy Lyko reels off yelled verses and blood-pumping choruses. Lyko is a formidable tunesmith; the way that these songs unfold is both instantly pleasurable and rewarding upon repeat listens. As you find yourself coming back to their songs again and again, they become increasingly embedded in your psyche, a feat not many bands can pull off quite like Casanovas. A-side “Belvidere” is a new one, and is nearly picture-perfect power-pop – all melodic-yet-muscular hooks, jangling guitars, and unforgettable vocal melodies. B-side “Destiny St.” is a staple that was on their 2012 demo, and it just keeps getting better and better. Anthemic, unexpectedly wistful, and driving, the last 30 seconds of the song are the most satisfying moment on this release and maybe in their entire catalog. If you dig the sounds on this 7”, I highly recommend checking out their 2012 demo tape and last year’s Ruins EP that came out on Deranged Records. Pick this one up from Katorga Works, who are generous enough to offer a free download.

Link to “Destiny St.”