Skeptic? plays a fierce and fast-paced brand of rock'n'roll that takes the term "punk" back to its roots. Bands that play an irresistible racket with the streetwise flavor of Circle Jerks or the Subhumans are a dying breed in general, and not surprisingly they're practically extinct in this cultural "Mecca" that is our fair city of Birmingham. Skeptic? undauntedly carries the torch for the handful of aging punks and knowing newcomers who long for the good ol? days of circle pits and pogo dancing.

With the band's latest self-released full-length CD, Against the Wall, Skeptic? cranks out tune after tune of loud, rowdy attitude with poignant lyrics about life and society and simple but catchy chord progressions. Among the best songs is the fuzzed-out opener, "Downsized", propelled by a bouncing bass line and a churning guitar with the wah pedal working overtime. The title track, "Against the Wall" is the type of whirlwind punk anthem that forces all the kids with funny hair to shout along with the lyrics and throw their fists in the air like they're inciting a riot. And "Holy War" is one of the heavier tracks with a diesel-driven bass and guitar duet that breaks into a rousing chorus. But Skeptic? saves the best for the last two tracks. First comes the hook-laden "Crosses Field", which skips the conventional punk structure for a more melodic and soulful rock tune that shows off some of the disc's best original songwriting. And the closer is a killer: a cover of "She's
 Not There", the soft '60s ballad from the Zombies, which here is given a spastically explosive arrangement that ends the disc like a stick of dynamite.

The CD overall is a hell of a lot of punk rawk fun, but you should know what you're getting into before I can suggest it. This isn't the polished pop punk that is a favorite flavor of today. On many of these songs the pounding drums and buzzing guitar can bludgeon you, rather than hook you. This is an aggressive style of early '80s street punk with hints at roots-rock influences. And the vocal stylings are not so much that of a crooner as that of a coked-up carnival barker, like a screeching preacher in a fiery pulpit. It's not music that will appeal to or was created for everyone. And even in the context of the genre, the disc includes a couple of missteps, such as a poorly developed and pace-killing guitar solo in "Division" and a tad too much repetition overall. But for folks in search of a local answer to stripped-down retro punk and frenetic, no-frills garage rock, "a la" Dead Kennedys or Black Flag, there's no need to look any further. Skeptic? delivers the  old-school goods. Catch them live at a dive bar near you.

[Check out Skeptic? on the web at www.skepticmusic.com.]

(photos courtesy of Skeptic?)

 

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