Strike Twelve – Moonshine

I have been looking forward to writing a review for Strike Twelve’s Moonshine since the disc’s first arrival.  With so much good to speak of in the band’s sophomore effort, listening to the sixteen-song album over the past few months has been a real treat.  Not only is Strike Twelve a refreshing take on 90’s melodic punk rock, but they also play with the same authority as seminal melodic punk rock acts like No Use For A Name or Lagwagon.  And to top it all off, a keen balance between witty lyrics and uniquely diverse compositions make each track stand tall on its own.

Appreciable across the first handful of tracks, the band’s musical competency translates into a varied spread of tempos and extras.  Tracks like “Toilet” speed along at a breakneck pace, slapping on lush backing “ahhhhs,” elevating vocalist Matty T in a very Bad Religion-esque way.   “The Long Tail” wastes little time expanding this thought with a healthy salvo of dark concluding “woahs” that piggyback off the first of many killer guitar solos (many of which integrate a metal sensibility as per “Isabella”).  Of course their array of mid-tempo tunes pace the lengthy disk, with tracks like “The Coast” and “Unglued” affording listeners the opportunity to breathe between album features.  The late album rallying point “All A Riot” infuses a strong set of female pipes courtesy guest vocalist Tawnie Gadban, purposefully providing a voice to the promiscuous protagonist of which they sing.

Complimenting the musical spread comes an entertaining allotment of memorable subject matter.  Key landmarks include “Zom B. Nation II” – a fantastic, fast paced piece about living in a zombie-infected wasteland.  Matty sings “the dead are now living and their on the run, they can taste the oxygen from our lungs, and my blood on the tips of their tongues” in a chorus sure to stick with listeners as they inevitably tune into pop-culture powerhouse The Walking Dead.  Meanwhile, “No Means No” takes a humorous turn in a hilariously truthful plea to all telemarketers and door-to-door salespeople, and “The Beer Pong Song” is sure to win over listeners with its hilarious promotion of the popular red plastic cup pass-time.

Moonshine offers exactly what you’d expect from a band that draws its influence from many of punk rock’s most memorable melodic acts.  But don’t think that means they’re living in the past; the band’s sound feels fresh and unique, and many of the songs linger well after concluding. Those familiar with Strike Twelve’s Southern Californian peers DC Fallout and Sic Waiting will definitely want to check these guys out.  Hands down one of the best purveyors of the classic EpiFat sound around today.