Life Indicator - Indication - CD (2004)

Labels: Anti New Waves
Review by: Andy Malcolm

This is a fine little CD. Life Indicator power through 7 tracks of melodic punk rock, starting off with

the excellent “1AM”. The style will be instantly familiar to anyone weened on Snuffy Smile bands like

Blew or Longball to No-One – rough, shouty vocals, flailing drumming, a live sounding recording

dripping with sweat and that super rocking, melodic guitar work that just keeps the energy levels at

HIGH all the way through. So that means it’s kind of like Leatherface or Jawbreaker to anyone unfamiliar with Japan’s finest

melodic punk exports.

Whether it’s the fiddly and superfast intro to “69-21” that is just relentless as is the rest of the

song or the kick-arse drive of the title track which just barrels along without any consideration for

anyone that might get in the way, this is top stuff. “Fist Generator” is pure melodic aceness, just get

a load of that multi-vocalled chorus. So damn catchy. There’s not really a negative moment to report

from start to finish. I can’t really think of much else to add, as it’s not a radical or ground

breaking CD, it’s just GOOD. And I just am a sucker for powerful, melodic punk at the moment – Japan

has bands that are aces at it.