RHOADS DELIVERS A SCORCHED-EARTH EP WITH NO JUSTICE—RAW, RELENTLESS, AND UNFORGETTABLE
Straight out of Thunder Bay, Ontario, No Justice is the explosive sophomore EP from RHOADS, the solo project of Dale Carmichael. Every note, beat, and scream on this record was written, performed, recorded, and mixed by Carmichael himself, making this not just a punk release but a full-blown act of defiance and dedication.
Operating under the RHOADS moniker, Carmichael channels personal pain, sharp wit, and raw energy into four tightly wound tracks that pull zero punches. From searing guitars and pummeling drums to unfiltered, gut-punch vocals, No Justice is a blistering showcase of one person’s total creative control—and total emotional release. Buckle up. Let’s dive in:
“Payday” kicks off No Justice with a bang—and barely gives you time to catch your breath. At just one minute and twenty-eight seconds, it’s a blistering burst of punk chaos. The lyric “If you drink my blood, you’re gonna get buzzed” leans metal in tone but lands perfectly in the gritty, high-speed world this track inhabits. If you’re a fan of old-school Germs-style mayhem, consider this one tailor-made for you. It’s raw, reckless, and over before you even know what hit you.
“No Justice,” the title track of the album, is a blistering punk rock anthem that wastes no time getting under your skin—and for good reason. It’s fast, furious, and laced with real-life anguish. Frontman Dale Carmichael pours his soul into this one, channeling the trauma of losing his father to a drunk driver when he was just 12 years old. To make it worse, the driver walked away with little more than a slap on the wrist—a fact that clearly fuels the fire behind every shouted lyric. Carmichael’s rage at a broken legal system is palpable, and it gives the track an emotional weight that hits harder than your average pit-starter. You can hear the pain, the fury, and the need for justice that never came. Still, “No Justice” isn’t just therapy—it’s a full-on punk assault that demands movement. Whether you’re screaming along or getting tossed in the pit, this one hits home and hits hard.
“In My Mind,” the third track on the album, hits with a tighter, more structured energy compared to the raw chaos of the first two songs. Packed with sharp, crafty guitar riffs and thunderous drums, it showcases a more calculated side of the band without sacrificing intensity. What really stands out here is the mix—both Carmichael and Morgan Mackinnon absolutely nailed it. The track is clean and punchy, polished just enough to elevate the sound while still keeping its gritty punk edge intact. It’s a great example of how refinement and rebellion can coexist without compromise.
The album wraps with “Balding,” a hilariously on-brand closer that dives headfirst into the age-old tragedy of losing hair up top while it stubbornly thrives below the belt. Yes, it’s about exactly what you think it is—and it’s gloriously unfiltered. Clocking in at just one minute, this track is short, snarky, and dripping in punk attitude. It’s crude, quirky, and screams rebellion like a sweaty pair of boxers at a basement show. Honestly, Blink-182 would be proud. “Balding” doesn’t just end the album—it flips it off and moonwalks out of the room. A perfect, chaotic farewell.
No Justice may be short in runtime, but it lands like a brick through a window. RHOADS—Dale Carmichael’s solo brainchild—isn’t just throwing down punk tracks for the hell of it. This is catharsis. This is rage. This is humor, grief, and grit all smashed together in a four-track firebomb. Whether he’s processing personal tragedy, spitting venom at a broken system, or just roasting the realities of aging, Carmichael keeps it real, raw, and relentlessly DIY.
No Justice is a welcome blast of authenticity in a world of overproduced noise. It’s fast, loud, and doesn’t care what anyone thinks—and that’s exactly why it matters.