What can you find in Kent, aside from T-birds hockey? These five fucks! Hardcore punk band, SuperNothing has been tearing up the scene since the summer of 2009. After 5 years of amazing shows and sing-alongs recorded in small bursts, they finally gave us all what we really needed; 68 minutes and two seconds of pure hatred and contempt for societies institutions.
"Life We Chose" seems to be presented to an audience that isn't gioing to get it anyway. The cover photo is the Kentcore menace playing at the 2 Bit Saloon... to a room full of punks checking their phones and having side conversations. The only people in the room that seem to care are the ones on stage, and the photographer. As they say in the title track, "We play shows that no one goes to. At least it's the life we chose." Judging by the conviction with which the lyrics are spit forth, the power of the drum kicks, the break-neck riffs, and the juiciness of the bass pops, they chose the right life.
On the surface, this LP comes off as a typical punk tirade against all the usual suspects. Junkies (Sonic Junkie,) the media (Face Time,) and the church (Jesus Fucking Christ) are all targets. Each one decimated more than the last. There's something personal in the way the lyrics are written. The words "you" and "I" pop up a lot. You can feel the belief behind the lyrics. Like Dre has honestly been writing this shit to keep from ripping the throats out of random passers-by. That's what really makes this album stand out from your standard punk fare.
To be honest, "Life We Chose" isn't the most innovative thing, musically. Somehow it never comes off as cliche. Sure, you probably won't be blown away by some genre-bending, life-changing diddy (unless you count 21 Gun Solution,) but you will not be disappointed. It's reminiscent of some early new millennium street-punk, while having what seems like a solid Fat Wreck influence. You can hear the ska, thrash. black metal, and crust influences, as well. These guys know their roots, and they know which way their leaves are growing.
The last thing I'll say is that these guys re-did some old jams and I think "Face Time" was way better this time around. Giving a very desperate, paranoid vibe to whole thing. "Dope Sick" probably should have been left the way it was. It's the only song on the album that feels like an after thought.
So, if you're new to SuperNothing, or you're an old fan, you should give this album a try. I'll be spinning it at work tonight for sure. The delivery is solid, the choruses are chantable, the lyrics are relatable, and the conviction in the performance will suck you in and make you want to smash the state right along with them.
I give it a 4 out of 5.
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