| Since their inception, the underground punk group D.I. has not only broken up twice, but also
reformed twice. Being the third time around for the band and the first album in about 13 years, I
was shocked needless to say. But "On The Western Front" appears to still have their familiar look
and feel, making it appear that 13 years of rust can't slow this group down. Either way, it will
be nice to see if the group can last another quarter of a century.
As if to leap straight from a Tony Hawk Pro Skater game, this punk rock locomotive streamlines
with non-stop pick eroding guitars and anthem singing. Plucking the old school punk feel that
bands like Social Distortion and Bad Religion have kept alive in recent memory, are in full effect
here. You will find yourself singing along with the simplistic lyrics, but also being quite bored
with it if your normal tastes have you listening to music with more depth.
Instrumentally, the racing guitars and drums are par for the course as far as punk bands go. You
get dragged along a swiftly paced set of tracks that do get you amped up, but they aren't exactly
original or unique. In fact if you were to take a mental picture of punk that resided in the 1980's
this would be a perfect ambassador for that. I like to think of it as Fat Mike from NoFX tumbling
around on stage trashing everything in sight, but that's just me.
"On The Western Front" is on the wrong side of a music time machine. While it does have average
(not bad) musical talent and the ability to get people moshing, the music is just too old to take
effect unless you are a fan of skate punk. Others will find comfort in bands with more profundity.
It is some pretty catchy and anarchistic punk which is amusing, but that feeling doesn't last as
long as I wish it did. Ps. Doggie Intercourse = awesome.
~ Pernell
September 16 2007 |
