Latin for Truth – Diatribe or Die!

Diatribe or Die! is the new album from Scottsboro, Alabama’s Latin for Truth. They bill themselves as punk rock with a conscious and this is evident in the lyrics of the six songs on this record. The overall sound is rocking pop punk with a smattering of hardcore, plus relentlessly fast drums and vocals that adapt easily from one song to the next.

Mexicaine De Perforation is a hard rocking song with lyrics that echo a common sentiment – “am I insane for wanting more? More than forty hours and a mortgage?”. This dissatisfaction with modern society seems to form the basis for the six songs on the album. Mexicaine De Perforation also has a killer guitar riff and interesting vocals, alternating between screaming verses and more melodic choruses. However, as good as this song is, it seems out of place compared to what comes later. This and the last track are the only songs with a real sampling of hardcore and screaming, while the rest are much softer and more poppy.

The second song, No Love Lawst, has more of a pop punk feel and is more relaxed; though it retains a strong drum beat throughout. It is again a song of dissatisfaction, this time with shady, toxic friends.Socially Adrift, Physically in Tune is more melodic, as is 88 Says – though the former is definitely weaker in comparison. Both are definitely keeping with the pop punk feel and 88 Says has a great vocal arrangement towards the end.

Natural Tailor of Natural Joy is a song about staying true to yourself and I loved the vocals, though I thought it could have done with slightly harder drums and guitar to make it kick a little more. The last song, Phuckette Motorsports, goes back to the fusion of pop punk and hardcore that was offered at the beginning of Diatribe or Die! and is a good, solid ending to the album, especially with Corey Killough’s skilful drum work.

Overall, this is an ambitious album that has an interesting mix of songs. I do think that the opening song doesn’t quite give the right impression of what’s to come. This is a band that I think is still refining their sound and finding their way, but as it is, this is an enjoyable collection that should appeal to most pop punk fans.