Rockfreaks.net

Frenzal Rhomb

The Cup Of Pestilence

Written by: PP on 10/09/2023 15:19:29

If you want your skate punk delivered unashamedly in the golden late 90s style (think Epitaph and Fat Wreck bands around then), the Aussie funsters in Frenzal Rhomb have always been a surefire bet for don't fix what ain't broken. They're one of the fastest bands around, they're not afraid to have fun in the studio, nor to write up simple, but darn effective melodic punk pieces with plenty of thick bass lines to boot. That's exactly what they are doing on "The Cup Of Pestilence" as well, which is their first album in six years since their solid "Hi-Vis High Tea" back in 2017.

From songs about where drug dealers take their kids during their time off ("Where Drug Dealers Take Their Kids") to hilarious cuts about their neighbors plotting to kill them because they accidentally discovered their amphetamine operation ("I Think My Neighbor Is Planning To Kill Me"), fans will be happy to hear Frenzal Rhomb haven't changed one bit for this album. Most songs still fit under two minutes and feature lightning-speed, chord-based punk rock that's extremely melodic, but also infectiously catchy and upbeat.

They're not trying to reinvent the wheel here folks, just to deliver a ridiculous amount of catchy anthems squeezed within 32 minutes or so. That mission is successful as just about every song on the record is a banger that will have you singing along from the first time you hear any of the choruses on offer.

Are the songs simple? Sure. Is it going to win them any new fans outside of their existing fanbase? Probably not. Does it matter? Don't be absurd. Frenzal Rhomb has always been about maximizing fun and poking fun at various themes through an extremely light-hearted lens. And when they are at their best like on "Smoko At The Pet Food Factory" (or on this album for that matter), they're just a ridiculously fun and infectiously catchy listen.

Download: I Think My Neighbor Is Planning To Kill Me, Where Drug Dealers Take Their Kids, The Wreckage, Lil Dead$hit,
For the fans of: Captain Everything!, Descendents, Teenage Bottlerocket, F.O.D., Mxpx
Listen: Facebook

Release date 07.04.2023
Fat Wreck Chords