On the first few listens ‘Secularization’ isn’t the type record I’d expect to read too much about on Punktastic. From the galloping instrumental opening that is ‘The Road To’ into the title track this feels every bit the straight up rock ‘n’ roll release. It’s contemporary whilst sounding like it’d fit on the soundtracks of ‘Dazed and Confused’ in one breath (full of that 70’s style stoner rock) and ‘The Lost Boys‘ in another (plenty of 80’s kitsch). Essentially, this feels like Italy’s answer to, well, The Answer.
So what on Earth is it doing on Punktastic? Well, tucked neatly under that surface of big hair, squealing vocals and stadium guitar riffs is a beating punk heart. Not your 70’s punk, your Oi! punk or even pop punk, but some dirty punk rock. ‘I Wanna Rock You’ and ‘Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’, clichéd titles aside, sound like they could have come from the back streets of L.A. via The Bronx. ‘Il Suo Pensiero’ has moments where it’s reminiscent of Guerilla Puebelle, if the French band had been raised by Aerosmith that is.
Closing track ‘Harage’ throws something a little different into the mix. Opening with a soft banjo intro the song soon erupts into a shout-along anthem with a touch of southern rock and even a little bluegrass. It’s a playful end to what is a playfully enjoyable E.P. Second language bands sometimes fall flat thanks to their grasp of the English language but that’s not the case here. Excluding the odd Italian aside you’d be forgiven for thinking Vicenza’s Speedjackers should be lording it over some mid-sized town in Kentucky.
‘Secularization’ is a brazen mix of big, fast guitars, rock and punk aesthetics, and something a little more continental. Enjoyable it is too. Forget the initial comparisons with The Answer, this really is Italy’s answer to The Bronx.
Alex