Since None More Black released the fantastic File Under Black in 2003 the band have not had an easy time keeping things together. Only singer/guitarist Jason Shevchuk and bassist Paul Delaney remain from the original cast. However they toughed it out, and, with the introduction of new members including former Kid Dynamite roadie Colin McGinniss on guitar, have managed to create a damn good punk rock album.
As you might expect after a band reshuffle things are sounding slightly different. When outstanding opener ‘We Dance on the Ruins of the Stupid Stage’ bursts out of the blocks we still have Shevchuk’s snarling, defiant vocals firing things along, but as the song develops it emerges as something distinctly poppier and less straight-forward than we heard three years ago. There’s even a Ramones style “Oh-Oh!” gang harmony which contrasts well with the rough vocals. The anthemic ‘Under My Feet’ is hot on the heels, with a bridge that catches you off guard, bringing everything down to a another bouncing harmony and a beat, before exploding back into life again with a rallying yell of “Come on!”.
This Is Satire is a far more varied beast than previous outings. It has more chords, more changes and more techniques, but of course it’s Shevchuk’s voice that keeps things distinctly punk rock. He provides a steadfast core of rebellion around which the band has a great deal of flexibility with regards to the songs. We go from the charging opening and past the dark, moody ‘With the Transit Coat On’, through the crawling and powerful ‘I See London’, to the Against Me style swagger of ‘D is for Doorman’. This kind of multi-dimensional depth is the stuff classics are made of.
But it’s not quite a classic for None More Black, not this time. While there certainly isn’t any filler, not every song is as gripping as for example the trio which open proceedings. There are areas where things feel like they’re dragging a little and one misses the instantaneous nature of the last album. In a sense the band are a victim of their own ability, because you want to feel as good as the best bits of the album make you feel right the way through, and it doesn’t happen.
Either way, add this to the growing list of great punk rock releases this year, and cross fingers these guys keep on struggling onwards and upwards.
Fat Wreck Chords
www.nmbmusic.net
Alex