Album Review: Limp Wizurdz – Fugue State

I’ll be upfront, the band name Limp Wizurdz didn’t exactly raise my expectations, this is at least partially Fred Durst‘s fault who has given me an aversion to all things limp, but I’m never one to judge a band by it’s cover, or their chosen moniker. Limp Wizurdz are an oddball punk band straight outta Oklahoma who have released an idiosyncratic and suspiciously hazy release that is at least twice as good as I expected it to be, and whatever preconceptions I may have had have well and truly been binned before the first song is done and dusted.

Fugue State kicks off with Cough! a downbeat distorted melancholy grunge fix that kicks into life likes it’s been spiked with adrenaline, Bike Messenger brings in a grimy post hardcore feel whilst Staple Gun and Cankicker brings a laid back punk approach. Jeff’s Checkers goes off on another tangent whilst Nervous Tick beings a fuzz ridden heavyweight instrumental into the mix before the final track, Spooky, brings Fugue State to a close with a monstrous riff that for me is the album’s finest moment.

Fugue State is not an album that can be identified as one genre, they seem to have pretty much carved out their own niche, but fans of the more left field and experimental punk bands such as Culture Abuse, Butthole Surfers and Dead Milkmen will be in their element with Limp Wizurdz‘s mix of punk, indie, grunge, post hardcore and psyche. Fugue State is a timely reminder why it’s important to keep an open mind, if I had judged this album on the band name or album cover I’d have missed out on a deliciously unique and experimental take on punk.

Fugue State can be streamed and downloaded via the Stress Engine Records Bandcamp here

The limited edition cassette of Fugue State can be ordered via Suck It! Records here