OC45 – “Class & Cruelty”
A fun thing about covering punk bands for our site is obviously, writing about the top bands, the established ones, and that’s great. But what’s also great, for me, is finding the newer bands, the up and coming bands, that might develop into one of those bands or if not, at least have fun trying.
I think a big part of the punk ideal is inclusiveness and “everyone can do it,” so I would be amiss if I only focused on the already acclaimed. And let me clarify that when I say, “everyone can do it,” I’m not saying it’s so easy, I’m saying everyone should be allowed to do it. Anyways, I love both of these types of bands, whether they are on the top or on the way there.
Which brings us to OC45. Andy saw them before me and liked them but when I saw them, mostly due to technical difficulties they were having, I was not impressed. But each time I saw them after that I saw more and more potential. I’m always rooting for a few bands and so far no one’s let me down. And OC45 was the band I was rooting for the most, though nothing is ever certain. But OC45 have reached and exceeded my expectations and the proof is contained in this CD.
I heard someone in a hardcore band recently dismiss OC45 as a pop/punk band. I like pop/punk when it’s a punk band not afraid of melody and hooks and dislike it when I feel it’s more of a pop band just upping the tempos a bit. I think these guys are of the former and though they sound more influenced by The Clash and The Buzzcocks than Minor Threat and The Dead Kennedys it still sounds great to me. And besides, this band is too fast and rough, and their vocals have too much grit and power to be lumped into the pop/punk genre.
“Class & Cruelty,” starts off the CD with an energetic, rushing beat and is one of the fastest songs on the CD. It moves along at a breakneck speed until a guitar/bass breakdown comes in and then finishes off again at the speed of light.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01 – Class and Cruelty.mp3|titles=Class and Cruelty]The second song is called, “Fear,” which starts off with a galloping beat and stuttering guitar until the gargled, strangled vocals come in along with some shouted backups in the chorus. Very quick and done in a little over a minute, it actually reminds me a bit of the Angry Samoans; and that’s a very good thing, indeed.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02 – Fear.mp3|titles=Fear]“New War” may start with a fancy guitar part but once it gets into the meat of the song it’s all balls out hardcore with sing-along vocals and angry lyrics like, “We need to separate. Fuck the church and fuck the state.” When after the breakdown and they zip back into the first part I feel my mind disintegrate and my scrotum disengage! My favorite, though painful, part of the album. Not a speck of lame-o power pop here.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/03 – New War.mp3|titles=New War]“Two Minute Hate” might surprise the band as a pick of mine as it’s kind of a hidden treasure toward the end of the album. With only the three words of the title and “Hey” as the lyrics it has some more stutter guitar and lots of drum rolls and it just a simple but effective song.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/10 – 2 Minutes Hati.mp3|titles=2 Minutes Hate]“Waiting For The Bullet” is my favorite song on the album. Starting with a melodic guitar lick, it’s not as fast as some of the tunes (it even has a ska-like breakdown with keyboard). But this is a very intense song and may be about the futility of war. My description is lacking, please proceed and listen.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/05 – Waiting for the Bullet.mp3|titles=Waiting for the Bullet]The OC45 guys have completed a great album and are now about to embark on their first tour which will take them all over the South, the West Coast and the Midwest! They are a fine band working in the punk tradition and now after hearing this CD, no more need for rooting, I’m sure they’ll keep making me proud.
(Slimedog)
