Cranked Up!

Item: This Is A Weapon
Author: Chaz Murphy

This Is A Weapon

(2005)

Reviewed by Chaz Murphy

Discogs Bandcamp

Label Blackout RecordsDecapolisMay 2005

hardcore punk punk

I hate "modern" punk rock. No, I don't mean those old school bands that are still cranking out the same tunes they were 10 years ago (i.e. Bad Religion and The Bouncing Souls). I don't mean those bands that take from their roots and either grow into something that is bigger than junk punk rock (i.e. Black Eyes) or that just grow upon the same punk they grew up on (i.e. Paint It Black). I hate those bands that wear the "look" of punk rock but are anything but what it stands for and what it's about. It's more about style and record sales than why the music was born in the first place (i.e. Good Charlotte). I also hate those bands that lack creativity and just follow whatever the current trend (i.e. Senses Fail, The Starting Line, Story Of The Year and the list goes on forever).

I say all this to say this. Cranked Up keeps it real. They keep it like it was before I was born. They keep it like it should be today. They aren't waterdowned or pathetic. They are just straight up punk rock. It's rare to see today and it's just a treat to hear it. This is just right for fans of bands like The Exploited, Rancid (older), Slapshot, Kill Your Idols and The Explosion. Although the production of this album isn't all that great; the style still brings it through. The punk scenes needs more bands like this.

3/4