WRUV Reviews

Hatebreed- The Divinity of Purpose
Release date: 2013Jan29
Label: Razor & Tie
Rating: 3/5

After several albums of dabbling in straight-up metalcore, Hatebreed returns to their hardcore roots on The Divinity of Purpose. “Put It To The Torch” resembles a muddled cross of metallic drums and buzzy guitars with the required breakdown in-between. My picks include “Own Your World”,  ”Dead Man Breathing” and the title track. All three best express the anger of frontman Jamey Jasta. Everything past those tracks is filler, except for “Boundless (Time To Murder It)”. I liked their last album better.  I do want to add that I’ve never been and will never be a fan of “tough guy” music and I think that Jasta has done his share of inciting the audience for the purpose of shits and giggles. Their next effort should expand upon their metalcore interests instead.

FCC: 1,9,10,11
Try:  3,6,7,11

Dropkick Murphys- Signed and Sealed in Blood
Release date: 2013Jan08
Label: Born & Bred Records
Rating: 4.5/5

The Dropkick Murphys pick up where they left off with sixteen tracks of upbeat, catchy celtic punk rock. You know what this means for a long-time fan: A tour stop! “The Boys are Back” attempts to capture the spirit of “The Gangs All Here”. Just check out those lyrics! Classic DKM! “Rose Tattoo” reads like a folk tale of sorts with a somber touch, bringing out the best in Al Barr. There’s something for every DKM fan here. “Burn”, “The Battle Rages On” and “Lucky Charlie” harken back to their early days with short, fast and catchy song structures.  ”End of the Night” is the kind of track I want to hear after a long night out at the bar with pals. Few bands can hold my attention as long as the DKM, especially after 17 years of combining the best elements of street and celtic punk. I’ve seen them live three times and I definitely want to see them live once again. A much better effort than Going Out In Style as it brings the DKM back to their roots.

FCC: 6
Try: 1,3,4,7,12,13

The Bronx- IV
Release date: 2013Feb05
Label: ATO Records
Rating: 4.5/5

I’ve never actually heard The Bronx before so I’ll try and sum up this album in a fair manner. “The Unholy Hand” contains frantic drumming and a sound that resembles a cross between early-International Noise Conspiracy and Rancid. “Style Over Everything”, “Youth Wasted” and “Pilot Light” are distinctive in their own way with a relentless pace reminiscent of D.C hardcore icons Minor Threat. The first single, “Ribcage” ,is rather unremarkable to my ears. “Valley Heat” deserves that honor more. IV is refreshing after months of listening to nothing more than doom metal. Highly recommended!

FCC: 3
Try: 1,3,4,6, 10

Misfits- Dead Alive
Release date: 2013Feb05
Label: Misfits Records
Rating: 2.5

This is a live recording of tracks from the most recent Misfits album (The Devil’s Rain) as well as live versions of material from the Micheal Graves era.  Of course, I gravitate more towards their older material. My picks include “Death Ray”, “American Psycho”, “Dig Up Her Bones”, “Helena” and “Saturday Night”. The sound quality is quite lacking with a tinny feeling that I just can’t shake. A mediocre live album that could have been done much better. Only check it out if you’re a diehard Misfits fan.

FCC: Check
Try: 7,9,10,12,14

Romero- Take The Potion
Release date: 2013Jan29
Label: Grindcore Karoake
Rating: 4.5/5

Oh Romero, thy Romero, how shall I review thy opus?

Romero hail from Wausau, WI. Take The Potion is their first full-length release after two EPs (Couch Lock and Solitaire).

If you’re like me, you’re likely familiar with the term, “Couch Lock“: Fuzzy riffs greet the listener ala Serpent Venom, transitioning to a bluesy dirge. Not to be outdone, “One Means Four” is the sonic equivalent of Oz Osbourne (Coven) and Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath) dropping acid in the bathroom of the Alamo. Listen for yourself!

“Take The Potion” educates the listener on the finer points of ’70s rock (sinewy vocals, a structure reminiscent of Blue Oyster Cult and/or Hawkwind). If you pause at the 2:38 mark, you’ll hear Jeffrey Mundt channeling a demented take on “Cats in the Cradle”! “In The Heather” (originally from the Couch Lock EP) distills the essence of Romano with a soft, spirited plod that amplifies from 3:20-onward.  In conclusion, Take the Potion lives up to the hype and it is an excellent way to start off the new year.

What are you waiting for? Take the Potion, motherfucker!

FCC: Check
Try: 2,3,4,7

Green Day- Uno!
Release date: 2012Sept21
Label: Reprise
Rating: 3/5

Despite the fact that Green Day should never, ever be spun on WRUV, I still can’t resist reviewing their latest. This is the first of 3 new albums (the other two are !Dos! and !Tre’! with Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool respectively on the covers). If you’re expecting a follow up to 21st Century Breakdown,  go back to your corner, emo douche.  ”Nuclear Family” opens up with riffs that channel the Warning/Insomniac eras. Simple. Poppy. No rock opera choruses here. “Carpe Diem” apes the sound of a few well known street punk bands while “Let Yourself Go” channels “Brain Stew/Jaded” in lyrical approach and structure. I kind of lost interest until the tracks “Troublemaker” (Tre and Mike shine the most on this track), “Sweet 16″ (Billie is not Dr.Frank and this is not the Mr.T Experience, but it sounds similar) and “Rusty James” (a remnant of the past two albums?).

It’s hard to review constructively when most songs run together or are so simple, that I find myself counting sheep mid-way. I’ve been clamoring for a stripped-down Green Day album for years and it is what it is. I hope that the next two releases will take them into uncharted territory. That is, if Billie Joe’s drunken antics don’t mar those albums. Earth to Billie: You’re in your 40s. Check this out only if you’re a hardcore Green Day fan (but  don’t spin it…let the Buzz and the other Clear Channel drones have this carcass).

FCC:2,4,5,7,8,9,11,
Try: 1,3,4,8,11

NoFX- Self-Entitled
Release date: 2012Sep11
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
Rating: 4/5

NoFX are at it again with yet another release with a catchy title. Glossing over “72 Hookers”, I found joy in “I Believe in Goddess”. Fast and furious  with no apologies. “Ronnie & Mags” refers to the romance between Ronnie “Ray-gun” and Maggie Thatcher. Other standouts include “She Didn’t Lose Her Baby” (totally unlike NoFX), “Secret Society” (it could refer to either BDSM or the Illuminati, who knows?), “Down With The Ship” (great lyrics about a wayward captain going down with his ship), “I’ve Got One Jealous Again, Again” (references to Misfits, Black Flag, The Spits, Fugazi, Neurosis, The Lookouts, etc and it’s melllowwwww) and “X-Mas Has Been X’ed” (perfect song to play around Xmas time!).

As some bands age, their music  goes down the shitter. Not the case here, even if the sound is tired in spots. The lyrics are slightly more mature and the poppy/ska edge is long gone. Fat Mike should call up Joey Shithead and do a “Punk Rock Nursing Home Tour” (and I mean this in a good way!).

FCC:1,2,9,11
Try: 2, 4,5,8,11,12

Witchcraft- Legend
Release date: 2012Sep25 (US)
Label: Nuclear Blast
Rating: 5/5

Sweden is the land of killer proto-doom/hard rock bands such as Captain Crimson , Horisont, and Witchcraft.  2012 has been a marvelous year with new releases from all three groups. Witchcraft’s Legend is the focus of this review.

“Deconstruction” mimics Bedemon, The Devil’s Blood and Saint Vitus. Energetic with memorable hooks and a tempo that crawls towards the end. “Flag of Fate” hits you upside the head with pounding drums and some Wino worship to boot. “It’s Not Because of You” and the bonus track “By Your Definition” crank that worship all the way up to 11.

“An Alternative to Freedom” takes one on a fuzzy trek back to the days of loose women in your lowered, shagged van. A fantastic hybrid of Electric Wizard and Black Sabbath. “White Light Suicide” torches a full-out bong pyre with tons of reverb and psychedelic skin taps. “Democracy” conjures the aural equivalent of an acid flashback, peering into the domain of Coven and Hawkwind.

“Dystopia” dabbles in darker skies with anguished vocals and a haunting layer of plodding doom. The aptly-named final track, “Dead End” is a stormy, dystopic jog through a fuzzy peach orchard. With repeated listens, I detected trace elements of King Crimson and Blue Oyster Cult. The crowning moment of guitarists Tom Jondelius and Simon Solomon.

Words alone cannot describe the bliss and joy that I’ve gained from listening to this magnificent trip back in time. It’s already on my list of the best releases in 2012! It deserves to be on yours too!

FCC: Check
Try: ALL!

One Man Army- She’s An Alarm EP
Release date: 2012Aug28
Label: Adeline Records
Rating: 4/5

One Man Army were formed in 1996, spit up in 2005 and reunited just last year. This release is technically a 7″ EP in digital format and I have to say, I wouldn’t mind either the neon green or neon pink 7″ release. Regardless, this will have to do. “I.T.I.A.L.S” starts things off with a sound that is reminiscent of a slowed-down Ramones. “Plastique” is garagey and very X-like, especially the Wild Gift era. I like it.  I listen to a shit-ton of Devo and I couldn’t help but pick that out in “I Got Hung Up”. It’s catchy and smart. Overall, One Man Army have been moving away from simplistic punk rock into music that’s tight and new-waveish in spots. Worth checking out if you want something different from a familiar name. The lyrics on “Plastique” are an excellent touch!

Try: 1,2,4
FCC: 3

Propagandhi- Failed States
Release date: 2012Sep04
Label: Epitaph Records
Rating: 3/5

Propagandhi return with their 6th full length release on Epitaph Records. For those not familiar, Propagandhi rose to fame in the mid-90s with their blend of political, in-your-fucking-face punk rock. I’m glad to see that they’re still at it! “Note To Self” starts things off on a mature note, with subdued vocals and instrumentation. It’s not hard to see where and how Anti-Flag ripped their sound in spots. “Failed States” is reminiscent of older Propagandhi with the “hard, loud, fast” blueprint held firmly in place. “Rattan Cane”, “Unscripted Moment” and “Dark Matters” are strong, albeit formulaic tracks. Yep, you heard that right. Propagandhi has matured to a point where they’re sounding very similar to Anti-Flag and other bands that are tirelessly cranking out the same old shit. Still, there are enough short, fast songs to appeal to older fans. If there’s one thing that hasn’t changed, it’s the amount of profanity on this album. That is a good thing because you never want to lose that venom as you age. Worth checking out but don’t expect their older material.

Try: 1, 4,9,10
FCC:  1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9