Is Deminer Chicago punk rock at its finest? Not really, at least not yet. Their latest release "Woes and So's" did not quite do the trick for me. These four Chicago boys are trying to master the classic 80's punk sound, but seem to leave the listener unsatisfied.

I found that almost all the drum beats in each of the twelve tracks were a little too similar. There was no real variation on this album, leaving little to the imagination, and lacking diversity. I can't really put my finger on which band I would compare them too, the best description I can come up with is a Misfit-esque sound.

However, I do believe these three guys have much potential. Under a lot of the repetitive chords and beats there are a few hits of innovation. I believe it these guys expanded on these sounds, the could really be on to something. But until then they just blend into an empty noise that lacks cohesiveness and originality.

These guys are from Chicago, and after listening to their album a few times I can easily picture them playing at the Fireside in front of an "on their way to drunkenness" crowd. They seem to embody a lot of what Chicago punk rock has come to be, but at the same time, they are not doing it much justice. I would not yet classify them with Screeching Weasel, Haymarket Riot (although Deminer does include a member of Haymarket Riot), and Naked Raygun.

Only time will tell of Deminer can produce music that will deem them a spot in Chicago punk rock history.