Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 


Reviews



With the release of Cityrats and Alleycats in 2000, Bombshell Rocks established themselves as the team to beat when it comes to hard driving street punk. With strong melodies, great lyrics, and powerful choruses, they were able to take a tried-and-true format to a level that a lot of bands can only dream about. So it was with great anticipation that I awaited the arrival of the package from Sweden containing their latest, From Here and On.

So when it finally appeared, what did I find?

The record starts out with a Gothy organ intro, then directly into "Begging For Mercy", a pounding hardcore anthem. Not really streetpunk, but a really strong song. So far, so good. Next into "On My Way", and - what's this, Emo? Plaintive vocals, personal lyrics, nice harmonies. Then it's on to "Warpath" - a little more anger and power, but jeez, those harmonies are starting to grate. "From Here and On" - My god, it's Bad Religion! Only with more echo. "Almost Free" is almost more Bad Religion than Bad Religion. "Out of the Cold" jumps off with three big Bad Religion "whoas" followed by "I've got a place where I can crawl in and hide. I've got a girl, and my girl is always right by my side." Obviously, someone is in love. Unfortunately, I don't care.

The rest of the album continues in this vein. "By the Blink of an Eye" is really catchy, and should probably be the first single. "Crossroads" starts out sounding like it might be a streetpunk song, but veers towards pop in the chorus. The album ends on a down note with "Cheated Again", a slow, emotional song with some minimal slide guitar. Overall, yrics have become more introspective, focusing on personal faults and relationships, vocals are sweet and croony, harmonies are everywhere. The musicianship is impeccable, the melodies catchy. This stuff will probably grow on me if I can bring myself to listen to it some more.

Bombshell Rocks is obviously still a very talented bunch. I can understand that they might not want to be restricted by their previous style. Any creative, talented band is going to change as they grow, and it is sometimes hard for their previous fans. I can respect that. But when a band makes a radical change to their sound that just happens to make it more mainstream, it's hard to argue that it was done for purely creative reasons.

Guys, there already is a Bad Religion. There already is a Millencolin. There already are a thousand poppy bands with a punk look who sing whiny songs about their girlfriends. You don't want to end up there.



People who liked this also liked:
A Day to Remember - For Those Who Have HeartRyan's Hope - Apocalypse in IncrementsLatterman - ...We Are Still AliveAlexisonfire - CrisisAngel City Outcasts - Deadrose JunctionGym Class Heroes - As Cruel as School ChildrenAll Time Low - Put Up or Shut UpThe Human Abstract - NocturneDead Hearts - Bitter VersesTwelve Tribes - Midwest Pandemic



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 4:43 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    the song "Dream, Dream, Dream" is so fucking good. This album is more in my liking than their previous ones.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 11, 2003 at 12:25 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I liked this album....and all there other ones. Why does everyone hate a band that changes their sound? I think you all just love to bitch and complain about everything unless its Minor Threat or Black Flag...STFU! and change your music tastes if you can't handle the new stuff

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 at 6:03 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    It's not that they changed their sound...It's just that they lost their intensity. You could hear their passion in their earlier works but on this record they seem to be going through the motions. Why wasn't their producer saying "OK but this time with feeling".

    Even Pennywise who hasn't changed their sound in well over a decade still manage to put out records with passion. I would have rather seen these guys break-up then ruin the (up until now) kick ass Bombshell Rocks discography.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 24, 2003 at 1:13 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Well, if you like a band for their certain sound, and then they change it for whatever reason, sometimes it just doesn't grab you the same way the original sound did, so you keep listening to the older cds, but move past the new ones.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 24, 2003 at 6:09 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    it's odd that so many people hate an album that doesn't sound the same as the artists previous work. yet if the band keep sounding the same over the years that's not cool either.

    Great album. Great band. I hope all the best for them

    Posted by waste_elite on 2003-01-23 21:58:17
    My Score:

    the D7 cover is worse, i'll agree. just... awful

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 9:12 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "worst album cover ever...

    looks like n'sync trying their hand at punk"

    Nah... Look at D7s album cover... or that band that made "Been There, Smoked That"... Thats worse covers for ya, but this one sucks too... The Greatest Album cover of all time is probably PiL's first album... Ahhh... I love Lydon's face being the first thing I see every time I want to listen to a record.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 9:37 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Street Art Gallery blew me away and this album just blew me.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 3:25 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Bombshell Rocks rocks!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 1:52 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This band has some kick ass songs, but for some reason they can't put together a complete album.

    Posted by 12xu on 2003-01-22 16:47:17
    My Score:

    To clarify, I didn't call Bad Religion poppy. I called out three different things that I think this album sounds like - Bad Religion, Millencolin, and the poppy whiny girlfriend thing. I like Bad Religion (and Millencolin, for that matter).

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 3:48 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Give me the odds! dont mean a thing to me!

    that album(s. A. G. ) is worth my time and listen. The last one sucked and this one sounds like it does too!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 1:55 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I had such high hopes for this. I wonder if all the Rancid comparisons got the best of them and b=made them change their sound. Biggest downfall since H2O Go.

    -sickboi

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 8:53 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Bad Religion poppy and singing about girlfriends?! hahahahaha, Bad Religion may play some "poppy" punk rock, but not "poppy" in the term thrown around today....and most of their stuff is more political punk, hardcore punk and just fast punk rock. They aren't anything like Millencolin. Greg's voice is amazing and the lyrics automatically throw off any "pop" comparison. Plus the band itself has more talent than a billion "pop punk" bands put together. Bombshell Rocks aren't al that great and the ysound NOTHING like BR.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 8:16 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I've got all their records an d I don't think this is a bad one. I like their new style and I don't think this sounds like Millencolin or something. This a great album.

    Posted by waste_elite on 2003-01-21 21:43:29
    My Score:

    worst album cover ever...

    looks like n'sync trying their hand at punk

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 8:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "But when a band makes a radical change to their sound that just happens to make it more mainstream, it's hard to argue that it was done for purely creative reasons. "

    Before people would complain about bands changing sounds for success, they might want to think about the impossibility of 80% of these bands ever becoming popular, before they say bumfuck band X has sold out when they're parents dont even show up to there shows yet.

    wyzo

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 8:51 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "Out of the cold" may be very derivative of bad religion, but how can you not find it to be a great song, regardless. This is a very poppy album, but considering the lack of consistency on there older albums, I think its an improvement.

    "Next into "On My Way", and - what's this, Emo?"

    If you think thats emo, bob dylan is no different than chris carraba.

    WHEN DID POP-PUNK OR MELODIC PUNK BECOME INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM EMO?

    I swear theres a guy who says the ataris are not pop-punk, there emo.

    WAKE UP!

    Being in love is not emo, being sad is not emo, being pretentious about both is.

    its poppy, its not emo. And a good hook is not a crime.

    wyzo

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 8:46 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I have the first album, loved it, and now have a couple songs off of this album. After hearing "On My Way" and "Begging For Mercy," I'm pretty excited to hear the rest of it, even if it really isn't the Bombshell Rocks we all know and love. "On My Way" still kicks ass, I really like it, but I probably won't buy the album. I wished they had stayed on their street punk thing for a while longer, they were good at it, and fairly distinctive too.

    -El Vaquero

    Posted by CallingLondon on 2003-01-21 20:10:12
    My Score:

    look, it's vin deisil!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 7:55 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    buy the first album. it's good.

    Posted by IlikeSKA on 2003-01-21 17:59:32
    My Score:

    i havent heard any of their albums, but i have to say they are a good band to see live...i enjoyed them better than millecolin when they toured together...just my opinion....

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2003-01-21 15:55:52
    My Score:

    i saw them for free, and if i wasn't rushed out, i would have bought something from them. this was last april, and i've still yet to pick anything up.

    which one should i go for?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 3:49 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    cheesy artwork

    Posted by evilash on 2003-01-21 14:24:04
    My Score:

    I really love this bands last two albums and even considered getting the guy w/ dynamite logo on the Street Art Gallery disc tattoed on me. I'm glad I didn't. While I wish this album would have been better it seems like the natural progression for a band with a weak fanbase like they have. Fuck, this is a bummer.

    Posted by pope_schlomo on 2003-01-21 13:54:35
    My Score:

    I agree a talented band but Cityrats and alleycats didn't do justice to me. I'm glad I passed this release in a store a month ago.

    Ramo

    © 1999-2006 Punknews.org • Terms of Use • Privacy • FAQ • About • ISSN 1710-5366 • RSS RSS Icon