The Hoax is a punk band from California US. This is their first full-length cd released by Thumper Punk Records. The Hoax plays a kind of punk rock mixed with crust, hardcore and ska.
This record contains 15 songs but is only 30 minutes long. Most of the songs are a pretty fast kind of punk. But a song like ‘Shot Heard’ begins like a ska song but it ends with a fast explosion. There are also some ‘slower’ songs. ‘Just Run’ is one of those songs it starts mid-tempo but the chorus is again really fast.
Also one other song that stands out is ‘My Revolution’ it has a more rock’n roll feel to it. The ‘slower’ songs are a nice variation but I do like the faster ones more.
The lyrics are from really Christian themed lyrics in ‘Crucified’ for example:
“Spikes in his hands and a spear in His side
When God called on Him, He did not hide
He bore everything; He bore our pain
For us… our Savior was slain”
To more a punk themed lyrics in ‘Circle Pit or Go Home‘ for example:
“It’s about unity not beating people up
“It’s about family not trying to act tough
It’s about moshing all as one and having
lots of fun”
The last song is a cover song from Dirtfoot. I didn’t know that band or song so I listened to the original. And I must say that I like the original better and the cover doesn’t really add something to it.
I understand the production on punk albums is mostly rough around the edges. But my complaint is that the harsh vocals are not really understandable. Even with the booklet in the hand it is really hard to follow what he is saying.
Overall:
This album is decent. It would have been allot better when I could understand the vocalist. The other feeling that I had finishing this album. Is that it would have been better if the fast tempo would have been throughout the whole record. It suits the band more. I recommend this for fans of Officer Negative, The Crucified and Our Corpse Destroyed.
Rating: 6/10
Tracklist
01 Stumbling Through
02 Circle Pit Or Go Home
03 Die To Self
04 Stress
05 No Excuse
06 Another Day Gone
07 Plastic People, Plastic Society
08 Tough Guy
09 Shot Heard ‘Round the Corner
10 Just Run
11 My Revolution
12 Fake Reality
13 Crucified
14 I’m A Slave
15 O Frick (Dirtfoot)
Bandmembers:
Tyler D.- Vocals
Johnny Hoax- Guitar/Vocals
David Robledo – Bass
Danimal – Drums
Label: Thumper Punk Records / 2011
Reviewed by WarriorSam
