Category: | Review - Internet | Publish date: | 1/10/2013 |
Source: | hitthefloor.co.uk (United Kingdom) | ||
Synopsis: |
True North
The sixteenth full-length release from a Californian punk rock band whose relevance died out in the 1990′s? Fuck no, this is Bad Religion we’re talking about.
As expected ‘True North‘ begins at one thousand miles an hour with the title track, a thundering, slaying reminder that punk (contrary to popular belief) is in fact, not dead. ‘Past Is Dead‘ follows on from the opener with fazed guitars, the melancholic singing may have the sphincters of all punk fans twitching momentarily before the track dive-bombs into an aggressive, relentless ripper of a rhythm section with a stylish, classy lead part over the top.
The sound of the seminal ‘Recipe For Hate‘ record is not lost with this sixteenth offering, tracks such as the infectious, haunting ‘Robin Hood In Reverse‘ and the violent, self-righteous and fucking brilliant ‘Endless Greed‘ remind any punk old-timer that this band will be going hard (pardon the pun), until they drop cold, rigid and dead on stage.
‘Fuck You‘ embodies the notions of all things old-school, enough so to place the image of a bunch of ragged, safety-pinned, bondage-trouser wearing scruffs pogoing in some dingy shithole of a venue. ‘The easiest thing to do, is say fuck you‘, simple, almost childish but still, what more could you ask for when you listen to punk?
Even the slightly ‘easier’, almost anthemic tracks such as the dark, bleak and desperate ‘Hello Cruel World‘ still have the punk rock edge that so many bands who try to replicate this do not have. I’m looking at you, Green Day.
The balance within ‘True North‘ is perfect, the speed of tracks such as ‘Vanity‘ and ‘In Their Hearts Is Right‘ gives the perfect contrast to the aforementioned ‘Hello Cruel World‘ and the record does not cease from start to finish. Closing on the speedy, melodic number ‘Changing Tide‘ we are satisfied yet not surprised at all that Bad Religion have foisted yet another banger for our ears to feed on. It is fascinating to see and hear bands losing their shit and falling apart after two records. Listen up, kids, Bad Religion have been going balls-out since 1979 and there’s plenty of juice left in them thirty four years later. (Yes, I am aware that that among other sections of this review sounded entirely sexual, so, just buy the fucking record when it comes out).
9/10
- Luke Davis