How "no budget"? Well, the drums sound like cardboard boxes, and the guitar tone lies somewhere between a Black and Decker chainsaw and a helicopter with a broken rotor. But Wastelander wears poor production values like a badge of honor, relying instead on nifty arrangements and unreserved passion to carry each song. Besides, we all know that once the bombs start falling, a decent recording studio will be hard to find.
The spooky synthesizer that doubles the main riff of "Knee Deep in the Dead" is a nice touch, as is the sudden melodic hook provided by vocalist/bassist Matt War at the end of "Wastelander." Indeed, just about every moment on Wardrive has a neat surprise buried beneath layers of sonic crust. Guitarist Sean "Xaphan" Peters and drummer Ian "Pit Viper" Sugierski play it close to their radiation-proof vests, making War's biker yowl and Mad Max lyrics the center of attention: "No way to stop this onslaught / No comfort in this massacre / Biological tragedy," he shrieks.
With any luck, we'll avoid a McCain/Palin White House, and Wastelander's dreams won't turn into grim reality.