Shiver
- Last Rides Of The Midway - Da' Core Records 2005
13
Songs
Running Time: 40:04
When I think of true, unadulterated punk rock, the first
bands that spring to mind are those second-wave bands that
were my first experience with both the punk ethos and skating.
I'm speaking of bands such as T.S.O.L., Agent
Orange, Husker
Du (yes, they belong), and Drunk Injuns. At that time,
- around 1986 - the lines between punk and metal had blurred
to the point that the same people who listened to Metallica also cranked The
Misfits, Slayer, and Fear with no regard
for "scene" separatism. Well, most of them at
least.
It's this feeling that returned when I first pressed Play,
and the So-Cal sounds of Pittsburgh's Shiver pushed me
back into the days when moshing was a dance and not a deathmatch.
Strange as it may seem, a band from Steel City, USA conjuring
the spirit of early-mid 80's California skatepunk, Shiver knows of which they speak. From the metallic chordings
of opener 'Rescue Me' to 'Anger Rising', with its Bad Religion-esque
personal and internal commentary, Shiver never lose sight
of the melody inherent in this style of punk. Fear not,
oh slamdancer, for the one-two punch of speedpunk 'Voice
Of Treason' and 'When Darkness Falls' is sure to be the
catalyst of many a pit. 'Brand New History' takes its justified
jabs at the American culture machine, while songs like
'Find Your Way' and 'That Sinking Feeling' burst with the
self-pride and self-reliance that is the very blood in
the punk rock body. Recorded at L.A.'s infamous Stall No.
2 studio under the guidance of punk production godfather
Darian Rundall (Pennywise, T.S.O.L., etc.), Last
Rides Of The Midway sounds full without losing any of the bite
this music demands.
Shiver may be labelled "retro" or "old-school" in
some circles, and I think that'd be just fine with them.
This is the music they grew up with, and the music that
lights the fire in their hearts, so label them what you
want. I'm sure they couldn't give less of a fuck. It's
bands like Shiver, and albums like Last
Rides Of The Midway that reaffirm my faith in punk rock.
www.shiver-music.com |
