| SNOTTYNESS... Punk Rock Classic - World Contender - Worth A Listen - Average - Plastic - No Future |
| ROTTEN BOIS 'Pogo Beer And Spiky Hair This Is Our Life' CD (PPPR005) 2003 The Rotten Bois were pretty well known on the Euro punk circuit in the late 90's. Even I'd heard of these Parma reprobates. And this professionally packaged roundup of their entire back catalogue from 1997 - 2002, is a fitting epitaph to this Italian street punk crew. They welcome us to their UK82 lifestyle with a 28 song sound track of pogoing tunes to run wild to. But when you spot 'em on the inlay, decked out in bleached jeans, Dr Martin boots and painted leathers, and stood huddled round a solititary piss pot. It conjured up a vision of stylish desperation, rather than some defiant punk stance. Maybe first impressions say a lot, and I admit I wasn't expecting to be impressed by this mob quite so much. But if you stick with it long enough, you do get to distinguish some good tracks amongst the regulation express train formula. The non stop gravely coated vocals, supplied by the funny looking Lux, reflects the music exactly. He must use the chant of "Oi! Oi! Oi!" more times than the Rejects ever did in their entire career! The most surprising and obviously the best aspect of their sound, is how condensed the production job is throughout this collection. It gives the band a head start on their more transistorized peers. But standout tracks were few and far between. I quite liked the rowdy 'Police State', and the well crafted 'Free Beer For The Punks', which had some good touches. And when the Rotten Bois ain't playing at such a breakneck speed, they do make tiny leaps forward. Take the musical slowdown on 'No Room For The Punx' for example. But as they rip through yet more songs about cops, being punks, religion, disco's etc. it gets predictable. Evrythings mostly delivered against a backdrop of early G.B.H. circa ‘Leather, Bristles, Studs & Acne' soundscape. You begin to realise bands of this ilk seem to have no personality of their own whatsoever. By continually aping their original inspiration, seems such a waste of energy. Other highlights included the chant filled 'Lino' or the attack against the hated 'Mtv Punx', both of which showed positive progression, especially on the guitars. They end with some raw live tracks capturing a set from their early years which mirrors the studio sound. You do get a feeling as the band gain experience that the Rotten Bois were starting to sound better than yer average street punk tag. So maybe if they'd stuck around for another year or two, they could've produced something really worthwhile to pogo to? It's all sung in Italian, which is very brave of them, and this record comes with a handy English lyric translation for us non-speaking dago's. So another devoted release by Pure Punk Records, the Italian Punkcore of Southern Europe deserves applause. But the overall effect of the musical content was still pretty AVERAGE. Only 1000 in existence. www,purepunk.it |
| DEATHSQUAD 'Final Solution' EP (Death1) 45 2003 I reviewed a demo CD by San Carlos punks Death Squad 3 years ago and they were threatening to release a 45 shortly after? Since then heard nothing? Well 3 years down the line the band are but a name on a lonely Californian tombstone but have left this the 'Final Solution' EP in their wake. Drummer Butch sent this in coz he still has quite a few copies left of its limited edition 300 run, and they are still available in case anyones interested. Death Squad despatch 4 tracks of heads down UK82 punk here with only the disappointing vocals giving the game away that it was recorded in the 21st century. They're from the shouty realm of punk in case you wondered. This EP (musically) reminds me so much of the early 80's with bands like the Varukers 'Protest Ad Survive' being of notable comparison. The Death Squad sound consists of a constant buzz saw guitar, simple bass lines and fast paced drumming. First track 'Lies' greets us with that overworked but highly amusing Death March riff which must've been used in the 80's nearly as much as a police siren back in the late 70's. The drums and guitars proceed to have an fascinating duel with each other before the vocals finally kick in on this anti government track. 'Plague Of The Dead' sees our Death Squaddies singing about zombies coming out the woodwork, fast simple and completely forgettable. They add a few interesting touches and drop outs on 'Fight To Kill' but they ain't there for long and a slight hint of a solo is threatened on last track 'Final Solution', which again you could miss within blink of an eye. This record ain't gonna change the face of punk rock forever but it's a neat little epitaph for a band who had a short life span and will probably be a must for all you vinyl junkies and completests out there in about 25 years time. Comes on a neat yellow and black radioactive label with regulation stark black n white fold-out lyric sleeve with a band picture that mirrors it's early 80's roots. AVERAGE $4.00 postpaid Dead Rockers Records, PO Box 975, San Carlos, CA. 94070, USA teenadolescence@aol.com |
