Adolescents: Russian Spider Dump

Back in the day I listened to punk rock often, but my tastes were more in line with what The Clash and the Sex Pistols were doing at the time. I tended to avoid the more hardcore bands like The Dead Kennedys and DOA. Here is a band that emerged out of the Southern California punk rock scene. The Adolescents formed in 1980 and have released around ten studio albums since, amidst all the line up changes that many bands go through after being together for a long period of time. For this recent platter the band decided to do a cover album, mostly focusing on other California bands.

This is more or less a hardcore punk album with the vocals angrily spit out by founding member Tony Reflex. Though this style suits the heavy music and I got used to his vocals, I’m still not completely sold. The anti-establishment sentiment in the suitably titled opening track “Fuck You�, originally done by the Canadian band Subhumans, is heavy and fast and completely hardcore. A heavy barrage of drums and guitar gives the Germ’s original “Lion’s Share� a definite ferocity and things don’t let up with the intense “Just Say Yes� although the backing vocals adds a bit more melody to the continuous onslaught. My favourite tracks are “Crayon World� and “Dirty Bomb� as the choruses and backing vocals adds a catchy factor missing from some of the other tunes.

The most unusual cover has to be Spirit’s “I Got a Line on You� and I think they do a great job with this one. Again, the use of backing vocals adds the catchiness and its clear the band are having some energetic fun.

While I wish more of these tunes were earworms, you cannot deny the passion and conviction of this old school punk band returning to the roots of the genre. Hardcore punk fans should find lots to like here.

A Cleopatra Records release.

Track Listing:
1. Fuck You
2. Lion’s Share
3. Just Say Yes
4. Class War
5. Crayon World
6. Dirty Bomb
7. Pink Piece of Peace
8. Fast, Fucked, & Furious
9. God Bless America
10. Home Is Where
11. I Like Drugs
12. I Got a Line on You
13. Not Going Back Home
14. Not With You
15. Back Door

Added: March 29th 2021
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band on Facebook
Hits: 924
Language: english

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