Labels: No Idea Records
Review by: Joe Callaghan
This is it, guys. “Gruff” punk record of the year. I’m not sure I like the term “gruff” as a indicator of a sub-genre, but it seems to be becoming a valid term these days. Your Scene Sucks calls its OrgCore, or something. That is painful isn’t it? Oh well, gruff, beardy, underachieving lumberjacks”¦ I dunno. This is as enjoyable as that growly, raspy sort of punk rock can be though. It doesn’t try to be mushy, heartfelt or sentimental. It just sings a few 2 minute 3 chord pop songs at you, and then it leaves you in peace. Instead of opting for that rugged, jagged, sharp-edged post-hardcore direction, it takes more of a Lookout Records approach, but picks up the pace a little bit, and just yells right in your face, like the sound of Joey Ramone being invited to Ted Nugent’s birthday party, as they chop down trees and shoot animals in the face together. Some of the choruses sound like they have about 9 lead singers, or just a lot of friends, and nothing is fancied up with tricky drum fills or fiddly guitars. A set of good strong vocals and a few power chords makes this sound like ten billion other bands upon description, but it’s the pant-shittingly catchy melodies and the rather interesting lyrical content that sets this aside from their contemporary peers. So there it is. A short review for a short record that sticks to the basics and it pays off. Dillinger Four aficionados will sit up and pay attention no doubt whilst those expecting heart-wrenching emotional hardcore will jog on, assuming people only like one genre of music, which they do.