Old style punk, modern band.
"Keep all my secrets in my record collection" is a line that probably tugs at the heartstrings of many music fans because that's what we do at times isn't it? We may struggle to convey emotions or attitudes in our own words but given the chance to convey them in a popular song and as a nation, we are on it in a flash.
The opening song of the Vatican DC record, 'Make It Ride' makes this point and from the word go, they seem like a band who remembers the old values of punk. Its not about the gobs and sneers or posturing that most of the young punks of today seem to think but rather, they seem to have something to say. Wow indeed!
If punk to you means rampaging guitars and giving you the chance to jump about like a loony, never fear as this album contains they moments as well with 'Sparks' having a robust introduction which would make a moshpit ping about quite happily.
For some reason, comparison with The Damned spring to mind throughout the record and that's probably due to the adrenaline rush that comes in the choruses and the way the vocals are delivered. Punk with a pop edge is no bad thing and its certainly a theme that occurs throughout the record. Then again, the backing vocals on 'Keep On Cutting' really sound like Klaxons and their 'Totem on The Timeline', what the punks and Nu-Ravers will make of that, who knows and frankly who cares? It works well though, the excited yelps pushing the song on and keeping the energy up.
Another familiar moment comes on 'Bugs.' Its one of the slower moments on the album and it still comes across well but the feel of the song if amazingly reminiscent of Pil and their hit 'Rise.' For those who don't know, Pil featured John Lydon (formerly Johnny Rotten) after he left the S'x Pistols and the song was a classic. Without saying, 'Bugs' is a highly enjoyable song, even with its imagery of the "sewers of love" but some of that must be down to the way it evokes one of the classic 1980s songs. Then again, "I could be wrong.....I could be right."
And from knowing absolutely nothing about this band before this CD arrived, I'm actually now quite intrigued. Its definitely a punk record but it covers all the bases and remains interesting and never starts to flag, which isnt bad going for an album these days.
'Not Your Fault' is a little stomper hidden away near the end of the record, so that's enough reason to hang on through to the end but on the whole, Vatican DC have turned in an impressive enough to warrant a few listens.