Many people don’t love newer, darker Nofx phase with more varied songs, piano parts, dark introspective lyrics with lots of word play, but I love it. This, maybe last studio album of these skate punk legends continues where last one called Single Album left off. Songs are more up tempo and more energetic with beautiful, yet somehow melancholic melodies, Don’t Count On Me is one of my personal favorites with such superb vocal interplay between Fat Mike’s, Hefe’s and Melvin’s voice. I can also hear lots of Cokie The Clown(Fat Mike’s alter ego) in some songs. Also, band grew and gained a lot when Karina Denike joined on keys and backing vocals, the songs gained such great richness. Nofx also take verbal attack on the scene with Punk Rock Cliche, the song to which lyrics I can relate totally in many ways. The music is basically fast skate punk, but versatile, with reggae, ska influences, also I would dare to say progressive punk rock in many ways. Fuck Day Six is a great dark song about rehab, autobiographic and strong. Gone With The Heroined, which was called before Scarlett O Heroin on one of those seven inches series, finishes this ten song album in an incredible but darkened way. This is dark skate punk rock tour de force and if it is the last one by this legendary band it is a worthy legacy.
The same titled book is on my wish and to buy list for many months now. So, when I saw that the movie is made, a documentary based on that book, it was time for me to see it pronto. Based on Harald Oimoen and Brian Lew’s book, this one offers nice insight into Bay Area thrash metal scene, probably the most famous thrash metal scene in the world, coming out of California. This movie is chronological, from end of seventies and all the characters being teenagers and starting their own bands with people like guys from Metallica, Exodus, Testament, Slayer, Dark Angel, Megadeth interviewed in the movie, nice tribute to fallen brother Cliff Burton and great live action footages, describing golden years of thrash metal through eyes of people who are still active in their respected bands and delivering killer albums. My personal opinion is, maybe the movie should have focus less on Metallica, more on other bands, and maybe more anecdotes less facts already known, that would make even better movie, although this one is good and fun to watch. I will get the book soon and see the difference between book and movie, I am certain that you can not put entire book into an hour and a half of movie.
Minus Youth are hailing from Stuttgart, Germany and this is their new e.p. This one contains four songs of metallic hardcore, not unlike All Out War, Earth Crisis, but with some street punk roots touches like Madball. I really enjoyed this one so much. Lately, I really enjoy these newer releases of hardcore scene and bands coming out, so many and I am glad after being thirty years in the scene that this is still thriving and pumping scene alive and well and will never die. Music of Minus Youth is aggressive, up tempo and also thrash metal influenced in guitar parts but still hardcore to the bone. My personal favorite on this little e.p. is Sun, title song containing breaks and speed, just what any great hardcore anthem should have. Vocals are harsh, backing gang vocals too, but in all there are no death metal singing masked in hardcore, this is a great hardcore shouter on mic here. Also, song I must highlight is Tens to Thirties. Great e.p. and great hardcore band.
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