Randy – Randy The Band

Randy have been around for quite a while now. Eleven years, six albums, countless tours, these Swedes aren’t exactly brand new to the punk rock scene. But despite all of that, Randy The Band was the first time I really got a good introduction to the band. So I wont’ pretend I know anything about the band’s history, any of their older material or compare it to their previous materials – simply because I don’t know any of it. All I know is that after spinning Randy The Band multiple times I can easily see why the band has been around for eleven years.

Straight from the opening riffs of Punk Rock High you can get a feel of what the rest of the album will provide. Straight forward, rock’n’roll, three chord rock with direct, simple and catchy lyrics and sing-along choruses. Think The Ramones mashed together with The Kaiser Chiefs and you could easily imagineRandy playing. It’s the perfect mix of melodic punk and harmonized choruses, and the most raw and direct punk album I’ve heard in ages. There’s no sugary coating, no polished vocals, just heavily accented punk rock filled with sociopolitical topics (I Raise My Fist, The World Is Getting Bored, The Pretender), some more personal insights (Better Than Art – find these lyrics, they are great) and even the mandatory cop song (Nothing On Me).

It’s a nice mix of melodic punk, skate punk and cheesy garage rock; and it all adds up for a release which reminds us that this whole “punk” sound isn’t just a trend flooding the mainstream, but rather a sound which will always survive in the underground. So if you’re in Europe you’re in luck, you can go and buy it now. If you’re from North America you’ll have to wait until late January, but when the day comes around – go out and buy it to find some great European punk rock and to discover why Randy have been able to stay around for over a decade.