Big things are clearly expected for The Donnas' second album for Atlantic, Gold Medal. Nothing wrong with the sound anyway, on the evidence of lead single Fall Behind Me.
The Bay Area foursome's trademark riffing is honed to a degree that's radio friendly without copping out so far as to alienate hard-won fans. They've got one foot firmly planted in their punk rock roots, while the other feels around, not the least bit tentatively, for the mainstream.
Fall Behind Me comes at you with a markedly Funhouse-era Stooges wall of guitars, a dark, broody beast of a thing with a killer hook that doesn't let up until three and a half minutes later. Tried and tested many times, and still thoroughly approved. Doesn't look like The Donnas are going to pull up any trees with this one, but hey, that's hardly the point, is it?