Fake Names – Punk Ruins

Right I’m gong to say this only once, the line up for Fake Names on this their new album is epic, this is a band that have never scrimped on talent or been worried about how being mentioned as a super group might affect their standing in the world, truth is, no matter who is in this band, be it known or not, the music stands up for itself.  The line up for this album is Brian Baker (Minor Threat / Dag Nasty / Bad Religion), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused / INVSN) Michael Hampton (S.O.A. / Embrace / The Faith), Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys / Soulside), and new drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket From The Crypt / OFF!), so now lets get the music on and forget who these maestros are.

Its reported that this album was recorded in just five days, well lets just imagine what Punk Rock was at the beginning, a counter culture to things like Prog Rock is just one of the mantras, so getting music played and recorded at its primal best should always be goal, so if this statement is true, then it can only be all for the better.  What Fake Names brought to the scene back at their inception was a simplicity of sound and energy, something that seemed to have been lost in the higher echelons of Punk, yes the DIY scene has never aspired to be more than plug and play. This latest album has kept this idea alive and burning strong, the album kicks off for example with ‘Until Normal’ political horror story that says what it needs to say, is played with punchy riffs and straight at ya bridge. Then you get to the title track which falls early on in the album, ‘Punk Ruins’ leaves you in no doubt that this is an album of melody, lyrical intention, and simplicity of sound, but most of all it makes such great use of it inherent simplicity, its filled with ‘the second listen peels back another skin to reveal even more’ moments.

If your in any doubt about recording an album of twelve songs in only five days working, then just wrap your lugs around just how ‘What I Tell Myself’ does with its melody without overthinking things, then there’s The Hives sounding ‘Language Lost’ and ‘Scream’ both show just how much nervous energy can bring to a song, its infectious and life affirming.  But then slow it down, yep they got that too, ‘Diamond Buzz’ takes a world view, brings it all clearly into focus with added foreboding, all wrapped up in an end of world sound.  Saving the best until last is not an old idea, so why meddle something that works, this album does this too, ‘Paradise’, believe in what they say and you got it! In a world full of AI and fake news, its so refreshing to get an album thats old school without being old hat, an album that takes the tried and tested, spins its around the room a little, and comes out being something you can listen to over and over again without ever getting bored. Simplicity can be intricacy. 

 Punk Ruins will be released on October 23rd via Epitaph Records.