Review Summary: Frenzal Rhomb once again prove their worth as an Aussie gem.
9 of 11 thought this review was well writtenOne of the best bands to come out of my home country of Australia, Frenzal Rhomb have enchanted me (inappropriately) ever since I was a young lad. Even now, I still have memories of singing "All of my best friends are racist, my best friends are assholes" at the top of my lungs as I walked around the school grounds. Back in the days where it was compulsory to wear broad rimmed hats in Summer and swearing got a call home from the teacher. They were good times, and Frenzal Rhomb have had a place in my heart for years, but nostalgia isn't the only charm that keeps me loving this band year by year, by on by. Generally sticking to their classic formula, the band never gets old, always finding a way to stay fresh. I waited for this album for five years. Five long years.
Forever Malcolm Young couldn't hold me forever. It was a great album, but it paled in comparison to the Frenzal classic
A Man's Not A Camel. Enter
Smoko At The Pet Food Factory.
The most immediately noticeable thing about this album is its crisp production. On their last album, the bass and guitars were too low in the mix and it sounded muddy at the best of times, but not this time. Every element has its time to shine all throughout this record. The drums sound superb, the bass is smooth, gliding along behind the vocals and guitars, but not overshadowed by them. Not to ramble on; the production is good- Nay, great.
Now, to the music itself: The albums dives straight into the album with the relentless
Bird Attack. The song seems pretty par for the course when it comes to Frenzal Rhomb, but one of their heaviest tracks to date. Pounding drums, distorted guitar riffs and Jason utterly tearing his vocal chords when the song breaks down into a slower section (seemingly new territory for the Punk band),
"MAGPIE. SEAGULL. IBIS."
After the first track, the album is melodic, memorable and has some of my favourite Rhomb lyrics,
"You're sitting in your room being a Nazi cunt". Frenzal Rhomb don't seem care if they're being vulgar or rude. But as I mentioned a little earlier: Memorable. Just about every song on this album is a classic, with great hooks and catchy choruses, you can't help but want to sing along. The musicianship is top notch, with awe-inspiring drum fills and bass lines, these guys have never been less than average when it comes to playing their instruments. Hell, Lindsay even pulls out a couple of tasty guitar solos. But my favourite part of this record is the intro to the song
Knuckleheads (or even the whole song). The intro is just an absolutely awesome build up of drums and guitars rising with a wicked bass line running along with them.
If there's one thing I have to mention, it's the intro to
Hungry Jacks Carpark. This song's intro caught me off guard, and I thought the album was over and had jumped into a Kings of Leon album. Odd, no? A little ringing guitar riff that seems anything but Frenzal Rhomb, it works well, if though a little unfitting.
With sixteen tracks and only twenty-six minutes of run time, it's hard to mention all the little brilliant moments it has in one review, so I'll just say this: The album is filled with its fair share of heavy and mellow moments, but at heart it's nothing but a straight up Punk album, and what more could we ask? If these guys know anything, it's knowing how to write a damn good Punk song. Possibly my favourite Frenzal Rhomb release to date, and no doubt the most memorable, each song is a shining classic and a stellar addition to Frenzal's already great discography. Once again they prove they show no sign of slowing down, and, most importantly, that punk is not dead.
Pros
5000 Cigarettes
Knuckleheads
Alvarez
When My Baby Smiles At Me I Go To Rehab
Cons
A tad short.
Might be offensive to some cunts.
