In the true spirit of DIY punk, The Old-timers are not restrained by mere geographical challenges. Don De Necker and Dave Emmerson are both in South Africa, but live on opposite sides of the country. Whilst their drummer, Matt Lagusis from False Idle, is on another continent altogether! Dave and Don put the vocals and music together, then forwarded it over to America for Matt to add the drums. Then it was sent back to South Africa for mixing and mastering. This is their first release.

Dave is originally from Scotland and moved to South Africa to work as a full time missionary near Cape Town. He works with the needy and underprivileged in prisons, on the streets, in schools and anywhere else that God leads him. Dave has previously played in Dragged Out with former members of The Exploited & Voice Of The Mysterons. Don is from South African and works as a youth pastor for his church in Port Elizabeth as well as running his own pie company. He has played in makeshift garage punk bands and ran a fanzine promoting the Anarcho-punk scene in Port Elizabeth in the early 90’s. Their influences include GBH, Hit The Deck, Minor Threat, Officer Negative, Crass, Headnoise, Conflict, God So Loved The World and many other old school punk and early hardcore bands.

When asked about the band name, they stated “It started out as a joke – poking fun at scene kids who are eighteen years old and think they know everything about music. Far too often at shows we’ve been told we are getting to old to be involved in the scene. So we just wanted to make fun of that. But as time went on we realised that it had a deeper meaning for us – we desire to point people to God almighty, the greatest Old-timer that ever lived, the ancient of days, and to encourage people to return to first principles.”

Any excess has been cut off and the lyrical content hits straight between the eyes. “Adonai’s Agape – or – The Lord’s Love” is based on Ephesians 1: v 3 to 8. It is short, sharp and to the point with frenetic drumming, charging guitar and shouty vocals. The title track continues the rampage with “Punk’s not dead and nor are we! / I’m twenty seven not eighty three / Punk’s not dead and nor are we! / Growing up ain’t giving up, just facing reality”. ‘Turnbull ACs” is based on the struggle against sinful desires as seen in Romans 6:1-2 & Romans 7:22-2.

Personally, I think that ‘On Hope’ is the strongest lyrically as it takes you to the crux of faith. “Hope lies shattered on the floor / A thousand tiny fragments of a dream no more / Hands hang limp and heads bow low / Reeling from the impact of the latest blow”. This leads onto “There’s no hope, not a glimmer of hope, outside of Jesus Christ / But there is hope, every reason for hope, with life in Jesus Christ / Yes there is hope, faith, hope and love when your in Jesus Christ”. They finish off with ‘Contend Earnestly For The Faith’ which is a spoken reading of the Epistle of Jude with a punk soundtrack in the background.

You can download a free copy of this album here.

Rating: 6/10

Reviewed by Peter John Willoughby

Tracks:
Adonai’s Agape – or – The Lord’s Love 00:57
Punk’s Not Dead & Nor Are We! 02:10
Turnbull ACs 01:05
On Hope 01:42
Contend Earnestly For The Faith 03:33

Band members:
Don
Dave
Matt

Weblinks: Facebook

Record Label: Thumper Punk Records, 2011