Pink Punk - Rockstars
Only the nu-metal purists amongst you will remember the wonders that were the marvellous One Minute Silence. It seems so long ago now that they were smashing all the other rap-metal wannabies off the stage with their genuinely passionate public musical tirades.
The fact that Pink Punk, Yap and Massy’s new musical incarnation, are actually in the process of releasing their second album, not first, is a good indication of how far the trends have moved on from a musical style that One Minute Silence at least, once made so exciting.
But then, the truth is they seem to have moved on a fair bit themselves. The only element from OMS that they have brought with them is Yap’s Irish lilting vocals, and even they have softened up over the years. On single ‘Rockstars’ his lyrics (and that of guest vocalist Kate Tempest) are carefully drizzled over a huge bassline and stuttering drum machines, the chorus is simple and repetitive, but in a good way - the mood and solemnity seeps into the brain, much like classic Massive Attack did.
It’s a mature step for Pink Punk and they may well be able to make a truly great electronica/hip-hop/protest album that Saul Williams has promised for so long, but never quite delivered.