Reptoids

A reptoid is merely a theoretical proposition. The hypothetical product of the evolution of humans if the dinosaurs didn't become extinct, nothing more, nothing less. Fitting then, that Park a Tiger finds the band Reptoids one eagerly playing for the past, playing for when punks' only criteria was "we go to eleven."

Even so, in that right, Reptoids more than succeed. Loud, bratty, and straight to the point, they make no qualms about the music they play. It's raw, gritty, and damn heavy for a punk band. In just sixteen minutes, Reptoids are able to establish and peak interest, and end just as strongly. There's not much deviation from song to song, but oddly enough, that almost seems sort of trivial with this release. The focus isn't supposed to be on anything but the rock, and songs like "Soft Living" deliver it in pretty large doses. "Crimes Against Humanity" opens up with some strong bass work, while Kay Oh's tough, no-frills vocals take the lead, and not only does she perfectly suit the guitar work, but she's playing a good deal of it herself. She and guitarist Melissa contrast some clean leads over the heavily distorted rhythms, and the product comes out surprisingly smooth. As you listen more and more, the more apparent it becomes that there's more depth to the music than just turning the amps up as high as possible.

But still, it's damn loud. "Mexico Fiasco" shows Kay Oh's vocals essentially getting lost under the sea of fuzz and distortion. "Permanent Mark" feigns the band slowing down for a 15-second acoustic lead-in, but that's pretty short-lived. Even so, it seems to be a slowdown for the band, a brief reprieve, and the only one that's going to be found on the album.

I'll keep this short and sweet, just like this album, and hell, the band's own words can sum this up better than I can: "Prepare for war now, this is open fire."