It has been two decades since Shades Apart released new music if I am not mistaken. The New Jersey power trio is releasing their new record with HellMinded Records. The new one contains 10 songs. The music of Shades Apart was really boring to me back in the nineties when I was a ferocious hardcore kid, knowing only speed, gang back vocals, nyhc and nothing more with those old school Fat and Epitaph bands too being part of my listening and growing up. I remember my friend Igor borrowed me a tape where one Shades Apart album was on one side and I think Nofx on the other side. I dismissed SA after two songs being too indie, too boring for me at that time. Now, as I listen the new album, all those punkrock melodic songs, being almost 43 years old now, I realize how wrong was I and how great this band is. This album fits me like chocolate pudding, meaning great. The songs have just the right balance between upbeat more rock and punk songs like Thread for example, but I love kinda more emotional songs like Only Light or Teach Me How To Live. The musicianship is superb, having everything from pop punk sensibility to more harsh approach with nice vocals, great backing vocal lines and I just love this album, if I must name one favorite song it would be 95, I can totally relate to the song and lyrics hehe, Super album and welcome back!
UK punk quartet Rats On Acid showcases the formation’s raw and emotional stance on the mental state of a victim of a real-life traumatic experience through “Like It Like That” – the band’s latest, enraged and induced with the dynamic of the classic punk atmosphere and attitude single! Outlined by musical components and elements that are required for the creation of an oldschool-influenced punk sound, including fast-paced, dynamic rhythm, despaired and frantically-delivered vocal lines and crude-centered production, “Like It Like That” accurately exposes and presents the overwhelmingly upsetting consequences of a truly personal and chilling tragedy and brings awareness to an incredibly problematic and upsetting topic that – unfortunately – becomes more and more relevant nowadays.
Presenting the concept and missive behind “Like It Like That” in an in-depth manner, Rats On Acid’s vocalist Konnie shares: “This track explores the tragedy of an underage rape victim and the emotions of the victim before and after the terrifying experience. The news was difficult for me to take in – I felt depressed and enraged by the thought that I was unable to do anything to prevent or help my friend. The lyrics are inspired by the exchange of messages between me and the friend making this a very personal song that is not only just another one of our releases, but a way to release all the negative emotions linked to this for me and anyone who has been touched by this as well.”
Who said that punkrock and symphonic orchestra dontgo together like cheese and ham sandwich? Well, they do! At least in case of Nofx. Legendary Fat Mike and his gang recorded their most epic and longest song ever live with the help of orchestra and it sounds just phenomenal. So, besides being epic and melancholic like this song is in its original version, this live rendition makes it even more fantastic with all the brass instruments thrown in, symphonic atmospheric parts and overall kinda sad, melancholic vibe that this song always had one me while listening. But, the real jewel also lies in the second half of the record with the new song Linewleum being partly cover of the band´s most known song Linoleum, but with awesome, sarcastic and cheesy lyrics, yet still serious, like we were used to in the best days of this legendary skatepunks from California. The guest features Avenged Sevenfold on guitars and it sounds awesome! Go get this one!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 