Thursday March 28th 2024

OC45 – “Burn It”

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OC45 – “Burn It”

 

There’s not much more I can add.

I guess that’s a strange way to start a review.

But I’ve said a lot about this band since they started, around the same time we did, just about four years ago.

And if I must reiterate, we feel great about how they’ve come along (Andy saw their very first gig at the Midway Cafe) and where they’re going (To the top, baby – To the top!)

Well, who knows? But I do know, that I don’t know, of any other band more dedicated to playing their music and as I write, they are out on their umpteen tour where they’ll hit something like, forty states in two or so months.

I tip my hat to them, that’s if I wore one or if I had anything beneath the layer of skin on the top of my head. And remember to tip your waitresses and bartenders and remember the line “just the tip” never works and also, don’t piss into the wind.

And with that, let’s listen to their new EP.

“S.C.A.B.” starts out calm enough with a few powerful chords and a hard steady beat. Then, as if someone had lifted the needle off the record, a new, faster rhythm jolts in. A verse with a subtle ska part, (the upbeat guitar chords) then leads us into a melodic, passionate chorus. A solo bass buzzing leads into a turning, churning part that returns us back to the verse and chorus. This song also features Jon Cauztik from the popular local ska/punk band Stray Bullets. This song has all the elements familiar with pop/punk like melody, ska and punk energy and aggression but what sets it apart is the added doses of guts, grit and passion which is evident in this song and the great songwriting as well.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01 SCAB.mp3|titles=SCAB]

“Smoke And Mirrors” starts with some chuggin’ bass all by itself but soon, a thunderbolt of a guitar slide, signals a double beat hardcore rush crashing in from all sides. This is where the scales of pop/punk are tipped more towards hardcore with the angry, emphatic words and singing and kamikaze guitars along with the demolishing rhythms. This song reminds me of, in a weird way, of a mash up of Husker Du and Bad Religion. But the best part is the ending when they slow it down and then take it out in a rockin’, multi-voiced chorus with a passionate groove. A great song.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02 Smoke and Mirrors.mp3|titles=Smoke and Mirrors]

With it’s rockin’ chorus and descending chords change I’m thinking “Heads Up” is heading towards a Motorhead vibe. But that changes with the verse and it’s lines sung alone with out any instruments except the drum keeping a solid beat. This is more a solid rock tune played at a break-neck pace. Also, some ska sneaks in there during the short breakdown. The urgency, the passion, the energy is just bursting from this track, another great tune.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/03 Heads Up.mp3|titles=Heads Up]

“Slow It Down,” starts out like some good old snotty, snarling punk tune with the vocals complaining, the guitars scraping and drums racing like a fire engine to a fire. But the familiarity of the format is changed with a great, melodic guitar line lurking in the shadows and a melancholy, perhaps regretful, vibe peeps some sorrow into the chorus. And in this short, but not too sweet song, there seeps some poignancy, honesty and emotion. I really like “Smoke And Mirrors” but this one goes as my pick as best song on the EP.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/04 Slow It Down.mp3|titles=Slow It Down]

I said there’s not much to add.

But now there is.

I’ve heard all of OC45’s recorded work and believe it’s improved all the time. And I thought their last album was pretty dope (Alright, I was first gonna write swell).

So I was not surprised that I enjoyed this four song EP. What did surprise me, though, was how much I enjoyed this EP.

The songwriting has matured, the playing has turned up a notch, I have no doubt this is the best set of songs they have put out. Hell, I’m tempted to say these are the four best songs they’ve recorded, but I’m gonna hold back, just a little, on that.

But I’m happy to hear such good work from a band I truly believe in. But I don’t think they need my words no matter how true they are.

Because they obviously believe in themselves. They believe in punk and fun and passion. In good times and riding out the bad. And that those seconds of pure magic on stage wipes out tons of sorrowful hours; guns them down like a machine-gun guitar.

And this EP is a great work of guts, feeling, sweat, noise, chaos, beer and life that embodies all that is pure and true in life and sends all that is not, scurrying to hide far away in dark places with the people who try to run and ruin our lives.

And there’s nothing I need to add to that.

 

(Slimedog)

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