This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
The second-most impressive thing about Challenger: They are continually likened to esteemed American post-punk bands like Hüsker Dü and Minutemen. The most impressive thing about this Challenger: They live up to the comparisons.
On their brashly titled debut album Give The People What They Want In Lethal Doses, this Chicago indie-punk power trio summon forth a sonic cyclone of formidable power and depth. Fired by searing guitar lines, propelled by charging percussion and capped with passionately shouted vocals, these 10 aggressively melodic anthems are a throwback to the mid-’80s glory days of respected punk labels like SST and Twin/Tone. If they can make a go of it — and here’s hoping they can — this could be the start of a new day rising on the U.S. punk scene.
