Darkbuster – No Revolution

Boston streetpunk act Darkbuster is one of those bands that live by the age old saying, “you can’t keep a good band down.”  Having formed and disbanded on many occasions over their nearly twenty years of on-again-off-again antics, their latest full length, No Revolution, comes over seven years after their prior release.  While such an extended gap may have dulled the senses of lesser band, Darkbuster has aged soundly and confidently.

Opening from a place of unbridled confidence, Darkbuster celebrates their return with the roaring punk-rock anthem, “Many Moons.”  With no frills or gimmicks to speak of save for a few of their trademark horns, Darkbuster launches headlong into the type of simple sweeping melodic chorus that embodies the aged confidence of a weathered punk troop looking to move a crowd to their feet.  Quickly moving into “No Fear,” the band gets quick and dirty with a rattling streetpunk pace and run-and-gun Oi! fueled resolve in a way that likens them to other Boston staples like Street Dogs.  As reinforced later in the same gritty style as per “Prevost” and the organ humming swanky rumbler “Punk’s Not Dead,” Darkbuster has this style down pat.

But they’re not just tattooed tough guys taking the stage by force, it’s a quick wit and light hearted approach that makes for an entertaining show.  Darkbuster flexes their comedic muscles in the humourous account of a friend living outside of the midlife norm in “Jimmy Needs.”  “Jimmy needs a woman, that’s what Jimmy needs” sings frontman Lenny Lashley jovially in jest of the middle age woes of a lonely straggler drinking alone at the bar.

While the bulk of No Revolution fits the basic punk-rock mold, Darkbuster plays with other equally as entertaining elements along the way.  Take the title track, which fully gives in to laid back, lazy day reggae upstrokes, and the celtic tin whistle flare of “Swillies Lament (Liquor)” which positions the band in the same realm as Dropkick Murphys.  Such unique moments enliven and pace the album’s quick ten song run.

Darkbuster’s latest reunited effort comes chock full of catchy, punked up anthems that combine all facets of the band’s career sounds, including the punchy street punk batterings, reggae/ska infused rhythms and plenty of boastful punk-rock tunes that fans have come to expect.  Despite a lengthy hiatus and extended stretch between albums, No Revolution exemplifies yet another top notch Darkbuster comeback.