Album Review: Plastic Tears – Anthems For Misfits

Helsinki thats Finland isn’t it?  Sorry that was a question I was asked when I first mentioned this band to a friend, or former friend after a comment like that.  Finland did bring us The Rasmus and somewhere in the depths of my mind I dragged up Flesh Roxon a horror punk band I believe, that’s my knowledge stretched with Finland.  So to have this land in my lap was a bit of a breath of fresh air, it’s about time bands from countries out there on the rim get some notice.

Who are Plastic Tears?  Well they are Micqu December (Vocal), Eco Xtasy (Drums), Andy Whitewine (Guitar), Edu Kettunen (Bass) and Juha Pietiläinen (Guitar), and from their bio, a rock/punk/glam/hard rock band who do cross pollenate the whole spectrum of music in a unique Finnish way.

Here’s my initial impression, a look that looks like they have spent far to long watching Gun n Roses,  a vocal that absolutely does have hints of said Axl Rose, but also draws from just about every corner of the punk/rock/glam/indie world, to create a melodic commercial sound that will attract your superficial music listener, but then there is also a bit more depth here, lyrically pushing back at anything that needs pushing back, giving a voice to those who should have a voice too.

So all this leads perfectly into ‘Doomsday Girls’ which kicks off with a New York Dolls glamed up rhythm, a Rock n Roll belter that yes might be a bit too kitsch for some, but who cares, there is always room for fun music in my world.

Talking of kitsch ‘Riot Girl’ has every anthenmic second of kitsch you could shake a stick at, but who cares, it speaks out too, girls/women do have as much power as anyone and they are a force, ‘Look Of Lies’ follows the girl theme, how the world can be so cruel and bloody, leaving scars that never heal.

What speaks out across the whole album, is the huge depth of influence that has been taken used and then transferred to create a unique sound, you can pick out so many, some songs even boast more than one style, take ‘Clash In The Night’, ‘Hallucinations’, ‘Divine’ and ‘Restless Outsider’ all hold a key to understanding who Plastic Tears are, Green Day, Iggy Pop, Hanoi Rocks, and most definitely My Chemical Romance nestled sweetly in there.

What comes out so wonderfully, is the fact that being out there on the edges of the planet, gives a whole freedom to create something that isn’t judged, something that’s not made with the pressure of “you can’t do that, you need to make it edgier!”  So what comes out, is a sound that yes is a little 90’s soft rock in parts, yes does drop the 70’s glam where it feels like, defiantly throws melody into every second it can, but most of all, leaves you feeling you enjoyed the listen and possibly if you listened hard enough, gave you food for thought too.

Pure unadulterated rock pop with a special blend of Punk/Glam and Emo too boot.  If you’re after an album that isn’t going to pretend to be anything else other than Rock n Roll played for the fans, then this is for you.

Out on March 26th via Wormholedeath Records

Pre- Order Anthems For Misfits HERE

Join the band on their FACEBOOK 

Check out the video for ‘Riot Zone’ below