Unglued Reviews

It’s hard to think of a more suitable producer for this album than Rancid’s Lars Frederiksen. I mean, Dead And Gone is all but a medley of tracks from …And Out Come The Wolves – so much so that it’s easy to find yourself thinking that vocalist/guitarist Eric Urbach is playing a cover and getting the lyrics wrong – albeit lacking one of the memorable choruses that are the hallmark of that album. Religion, Sex And Struggle similarly sounds like it could have come from the pen of Tim Armstrong. (The mid-paced punk ‘n’ roll Choice Through Struggle, however, could be NOFX, despite featuring Frederiksen as co-vocalist.)

When not imitating Rancid or NOFX, the four-piece’s strongest influence is early ’80s hardcore. The rhythm section tear through Corruption (which shows the band can do good choruses), the breakneck Infiltrated Minds is peppered with pick slides, gang vocals and scorching lead breaks, and Trenches sounds like UK Subs tackling Hole’s Celebrity Skin.

Urbach’s gruff voice belies his 17 years but his blunt delivery smacks of trying too hard. It’s only on the slashing strut of Junk, Dope And Speed that he really sounds natural and convincing. His harsh tones sound particularly out of place on the closing cover of The Police’s Next To You when contrasted with the backing harmonies.

Static Thought’s debut shows a lot of potential, and hopefully that promise will be more fully realised once they develop their own voice. The band has the musical chops but the songwriting for the most part is a little lacklustre and derivative, without capturing the spark that made the bands they’re copying great.

Owen Heitmann