The first Karp album has its charms, but might not be the place for beginners to start. Mustaches Wild is unremittingly dark, ugly and loud, with only occasional flashes of the, ahem, pop sensibility that characterizes the later Suplex and Self Titled LP, and hence perhaps an album best sought out and appreciated after a few thorough listens to those two. It also boasts the highest scream quotient of any Karp album, with guitarist Chris Smith and bassist Jared Warren still using their scary voices more than their sing-y ones. One thing that certainly is in place, even at this early date, is Jernigan�s hard-hitting style�the glue that holds this tumble of thoroughly nasty riffage together.

The ability for one to incorporate mood swings into their musical creativity is apparent on the debut full-length by Washington's Karp. At the drop of a hat, they can go from slow and blistering to upbeat and pounding, all while remaining at a very low, heavy tone. Deeply influenced by Black Sabbath and the Melvins, Mustaches Wild has the potential to be a very dark release with their very tongue-in-cheek lyrics on tracks like "13 Ways to a Cavity," where the vocalist repeats "It's going to hurt again" continually. Of course, this all depends on how serious the listener takes Karp.