In a time when fans crave musical authenticity, the Fleshtones have returned to show us once again how rock should be done. With It’s Getting Late (...And More Songs About Werewolves), the garage rock legends prove they’ve lost none of the fuel that’s powered them since their debut in 1976. And the album isn’t just a nod to their roots but a statement declaring that the Fleshtones are still here, still fierce, and still throwing strikes in the spirit of their signature sound.

Born in Queens and raised in the chaotic rock scenes surrounding CBGB, Max’s Kansas City, and Club 57, the Fleshtones built their legacy with an unbeatable live show that mixes everything from garage, surf and horror to Dick Dale, Little Richard and the Stones. They also managed to do what few bands could stay true to their art without compromising for trends over the years. Frontman Peter Zaremba, part Dean Martin, part Count Dracula, is a whirlwind of charisma, flanked by the airborne Keith Streng on guitar, and drummer Bill Milhizer’s less-is-more rhythm. Unlike some of their contemporaries who’ve mellowed over time, the Fleshtones remain electrifying, their tempos unrelenting, their energy unfazed by age. They’ve long carried the torch for American beat music, blending punk swagger with soul-driven grit, and It’s Getting Late (...And More Songs About Werewolves) pulses with that same fervor. Tracks like “Theme from ‘It’s Getting Late’” and “Gotta Get Away” capture their raw, raucous power, taking off on a relentless joyride that feels much as it did in their sweaty early days.

The Fleshtones’ “Super Rock” sound, which blends the rebellious spirit of punk with the grooves of soul, has reverberated around the world for decades. Europe treats them like royalty, Spanish fans make pilgrimages, and they’re seen as legends across Scandinavia, Italy, and France. Stateside, their influence has crossed generations, with bands still learning from their suave stagecraft and sincere enthusiasm. The Fleshtones remain the only CBGB-era band to have kept performing and recording without break since 1976, proudly wearing the “last real band in America” mantle. Zaremba’s tenure as MTV’s The Cutting Edge host and their appearances on American Bandstand and Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes are just some of the milestones in a career defined by odd moments. Whether they’re playing alongside legends like Chuck Berry or James Brown or tearing it up in East Village clubs, the Fleshtones somehow make rock ’n’ roll look easy, unforced, and always thrilling.

With It’s Getting Late (...And More Songs About Werewolves), the Fleshtones remind us why they’ve been your favorite band's favorite band for decades. They might just be rock’s last real warriors, still standing tall, and still howling at the moon.