Track Of The Day/ Punk-Blog: Shfux

#TrackOfTheDay/ #PunkBlog

Track: Death In The Bargain Bin

Band: Shfux

From the Album: Distortion and Dust

Record Label: Wiseass Records

Genre/s: Punk/Hardcore Punk/ Thrash Metal/ Black Metal/ Garage Rock/Ska-Punk

Before I start my review, this is just a friendly message to bands and artists; Music submissions are now closed to Theresa’s Sound World for a little while. I’m flattered that so many of you have the confidence in me reviewing your music, but I have a massive backlog of reviews to work through, plus blogging elsewhere, a radio show, my own music, plus life in the offline world has got much busier! I will put a post out once things are a bit freer and hopefully a new music submissions video. Also, owing to time constraints, I’m only reviewing single tunes for now, so whenever I review at the moment, it will be in the ‘Track of the day’ format. If it’s a double A side/ ep or Album needing review, what I’m going to be doing is choosing my favourite track and reviewing that. Many thanks for your time and support of this blog-page; on with the review! ⭐️

When music fans think of Punk, they may envisage he old school, (The) Sex Pistols, X-Ray Spex or Sham 69. They may think of bands who catapulted into super stardom, such as Green Day or Blink 182. Or perhaps call to mind, harder, more visceral bands like Minor Threat, Black Flag or Dead Kennedys. However, Punk is ever evolving and is kept fresh by newer bands doing exactly what Punk always intended, being unique and blending styles and other genres into the mix.

This is exactly what the bands on Texan Punk label Wiseass Records do. This label supports bands who exist at the noisier end of the Punk spectrum. Bands on this label don’t conform to what a casual listener may describe as ‘Punk’ and blend in the sub-genres of Anarcho, Crust, Hardcore and Folk-Punk, along with classic UK and US Punk influences and hints of Thrash Metal and Hard Rock.

My track of the day review is of a tune by one such band,Shfux, but I’m also going to leave links below to other bands on the Wiseass Records label including Marla Strange Anticitizen Worm Suicide & The Devil Club Circle Pit

On with the review!⭐️

Death In The Bargain Bin: With a slow, Thrash Metal-like riff this Punk Banger kicks off. There’s shades of early 90s Anthrax and already there is a groove hovering over the track. The hell-for-leather drum guided playing has elements of Hardcore Punk, but also reminded me of 50s Surf guitar artists, such as Dick Dale and the noisier end of 90s Surf-influenced Punk bands, acts like The Mummies and The Wolfmen. As the vocals crash in, there’s a depth and presence here; a sense of character, of showmanship. The vocals match the drumming, unswerving, not coming up for air. There’s a power with the vocals. From a technical point of view, as far as singing goes, this is a technique that is very tricky to pull off, but it’s done well here. The way the words are delivered have a sub-Rap feel to them; it’s like a combination between Rapping and Hardcore Punk delivery. It puts me in mind of the way (the) Beastie Boys delivered their words on the lesser known Hardcore Punk inspired release, ‘Aglio e Olio’. There’s little hints of a more Classic or Blues Rock influence as the vocals drop out; little flourishes of lead guitar which neither dominate the song, nor stick around for too long. It’s these little flavours that enhance and give this song definition. Then a girder-like power-chord riff, reminiscent of something that East Bay Ray of (the) Dead Kennedys might have dreamed up comes crashing in. Then, this tune takes an unexpected but welcome direction. ‘Death In The Bargain Bin’ falls into a groove which has slight smatterings of Ska-Punk and Dub-Reggae. There’s a controlled looseness which acts as a counterpoint and contrast to the Hardcore-style previous section. Dirty lead guitar dominates, but again, this section doesn’t over-celebrate itself, crashing back into the familiar incendiary Hardcore/Surf Punk musical onslaught. The familiarity of this section endears itself to the listener, driving on, then ending with a slowed down, almost Stoner Rock groove. It’s a way of ending a tune in an unexpected and uncliched way and serves to illustrate how this band are bristling with creative ideas and individuality.

Have a listen to ‘Death In The Bargain Bin’ by Shfux on Bandcamp and check out the rest of their album, ‘Distortion and Dust’. Click the first link below for the track, click the second for the full album. Plus there’s other links to other Wiseass Records bands below.

🎼Listen to to ‘Death In The Bargain Bin’ by Shfux: https://shfux.bandcamp.com/track/death-in-the-bargain-bin

🎼Listen to ‘Distortion and Dust’ (Full Album) by Shfux: https://shfux.bandcamp.com/album/distortion-and-dust

🎶Other Wiseass Records Releases:

⭐️Marla Strange: https://marlastrange.bandcamp.com/album/left-hand-path

⭐️Anticitizen: http://anticitizenpunk.bandcamp.com/album/warmachine

⭐️Worm Suicide: http://wormsuicide.bandcamp.com/album/blacking-out-2020

⭐️Circle Pit: https://circlepit1.bandcamp.com/album/pushed-to-revenge

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