Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 




Reviews

Street Dogs - State of Grace
Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile

Fenix TX

Purple Reign in Blood: Live
2005
Adrenaline

Fenix TX - Purple Reign in Blood: Live (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Brian
See others by this writer


[staff]

Fenix TX (link)

Only registered users
can post comments


Print this Review Send this Review to a Friend

Published on November 15th 2005

Of all bands deserving of a live album, I'm certain a few are bound to question the presence of one for recently reuinted pop-punk outfit Fenix TX. After all, not only is the band widely regarded as little more than competent post-Blink-182 fare, but they have a mere 2 full-lengths under their proverbial belts, and this album in particular doesn't even appear to be the result of contractual obligations (as it's released through Adrenaline Music Group). So how much effort was put into an album whose release isn't likely to garner much, if any, interest outside of its already in-house fanbase?

Like something that's likely to only be appreciated by fans, unsurprisingly.

Purple Reign in Blood, which draws its name from two legendary but polarizing acts of the 1980s, delivers most of the tracks you'd expect to hear in a Fenix TX set list. Both of their big singles, "All My Fault" (which closes the disc and thus makes the song's following crowd chants of "one more song!" a bit awkward) and "Threesome" (complete with a ridiculously flow-stopping pause to confusingly introduce members), are contained within, as well as two covers, those being a faithful version of CCR's "Fortunate Son" and a strangely fast-paced one of Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home)," as well as the necessary slew of tracks from 1999's eponymous debut and 2001's "darker" Lechuza. The disc is awfully heavier on the latter of the band's releases however, taking eight tracks from that album -- luckily its strongest ones -- and only three from the self-titled one. It's a terribly lopsided set list that overlooks some of Fenix TX's more "emotional" or skatepunk-oriented and consequently standout material ("GBOH," "Ben," "Speechless," "Philosophy," the Autopilot Off predating of "No Lie," basically the entire mid-section) that would've served the set list a much-needed diversification, especially since parts of that album were arguably overproduced and the more raw setting is likely to do them well.

If nothing else, the band plays efficiently and the sound is great, with "Minimum Wage," played much rawer, faster, and more aggressive than the studio version, perhaps the standout. There's only a slight amount of banter, but none it is particularly insightful. There's nary a mention of a possible future release, and not a single word about the band's endeavors in those past four years, including the low-selling Denver Harbor album, which was more or less an extension on Lechuza. It all seems strangely taboo here. Though, during the aforementioned pause of "Threesome," the band members start blabbering over each other's words (as they'll tend to do during Purple Reign's course), and it ends in the great outburst of "His titties ah nice!" Other than this exchange, potential Enema Strikes Back! comparisons are prevented.

All in all, Purple Reign in Blood: Live is a definitively "fans only" type of release, and even then, its acutely askewed nature may turn away several preferring earlier material.






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 Friday, November 25, 2005 at 4:10 PM (EST)

    is soooooooo coolllllllllll

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 5:48 PM (EST)

    I hope this isn't an excuse for a comeback, because this band is flat-out horrible. The cover art is pretty fucking degrading to any slayer/prince fan as well.

    ---Trav.

    Posted by dev on 2005-11-18 16:12:23

    Here go the anonymouses again.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 4:06 PM (EST)

    no1 gives a sgyt aboutttt intarnetz mesagez boordz.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 3:50 PM (EST)

    You're illiterate. I can barely understand what you're trying to communicate. Go back to school. Or read. Read good writers. You're wasting everyone's time.

    says the guy who writes, "read good writers."

    anyway, how come no one list examples of the "illiteracy" or the "bad vocab"

    i might as well as tell you that you use several words incorrectly and that you have shit for grammar and spelling. without specific examples it just sounds like something to say to bash the review because you dont like it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 2:57 PM (EST)

    You're illiterate. I can barely understand what you're trying to communicate. Go back to school. Or read. Read good writers. You're wasting everyone's time.

    Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-11-18 05:31:15

    no friday update?

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-11-17 22:16:10

    what did you say local h?

    they had to change the cover bomb?

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by localh on 2005-11-17 21:42:23

    they covered bomb track when I saw em in 2000

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 7:49 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I hope the reviewer gets mauled by a Rottweiler!

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 5:35 PM (EST)

    wow.why didn't they change cover art?

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 4:28 PM (EST)

    list them mr. dictionary. i want to see

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 4:25 PM (EST)

    wow, the reviewer needs to work on his vocabulary. there are several words used incorrectly and/or awkwardly.

    Posted by dev on 2005-11-17 12:41:14

    Cover art.

    Posted by dev on 2005-11-17 12:41:05

    I bet they'll change the cover art.

    Posted by dev on 2005-11-17 12:40:52

    They'd BETTER change the cover art

    Posted by dev on 2005-11-17 12:40:31

    I hope they change the cover art.

    Posted by dev on 2005-11-17 12:40:17

    Aren't they supposed to change the cover art?

    Posted by dev on 2005-11-17 12:39:58

    Didn't they change the cover art?

    Posted by dev on 2005-11-17 12:39:44

    I thought they had to change the cover art?

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 11:22 AM (EST)

    wow that looks like a GOOD SET LIST! SOund like they are playing alot of stuff from the ST! I had heard that they wern't but if they played all those songs for you, then hopefully they do for everyone. I want to hear flight 601, speechless, obleek, and my FAVORITE NO LIE! I WILL definetly request NO LIE!

    Posted by 8dollarclarinetsolo on 2005-11-17 01:01:53

    oh and threesome and tearjerker

    Posted by 8dollarclarinetsolo on 2005-11-17 01:01:21
    My Score:

    here is what they played when i saw them

    minimum wage
    flight 601
    speechless
    gboh(at my request)
    all my fault
    ben
    obleek

    something bads gonna happen
    song for everyone
    phoebe cates
    katie w
    that other metal one
    covered territorial pissings(another creative one)

    they seemed pretty open to requests though, other tha rooster song, someone shouted for obleek and he was just like ok i dont care and started playing it. they might have done a couple others, i forget, but thats the just of it

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 10:08 PM (EST)

    duff is from texas.

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2005-11-16 21:35:52

    Fenix who? WHERES THE DUFF REVIEW!!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 4:38 PM (EST)

    I've been waiting for the Fenix TX live album with as much enthusiasm as I have for that colonoscopy procedure.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 10:35 AM (EST)

    Wow. Brian could have done anything, but he CHOSE to not only listen to this album, but then take the time to write a review of it. Yikes.

    Posted by poopypants on 2005-11-16 09:32:54

    stevejones,

    did they change the art on the cover of this cd?

    paul

    Posted by iheartadam on 2005-11-16 04:52:38
    My Score:

    "All in all, Purple Reign in Blood: Live is a definitively "fans only" type of release"

    I think it should probably read: All in all, Purple Reign in Blood: Live is definitively a "fans only" type of release.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 2:12 AM (EST)

    Fenix TX are no Slayer and they aren't Prince. So what made them think they would be a combination of both?

    Ramo
    (What would that be? Player???

    Posted by Godfather on 2005-11-15 23:57:52

    wait...so weren' they supposed to change the cover art or something?

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-11-15 23:29:55

    so prince didnt sue or what? werent they supposed to change that coverart?

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by colin on 2005-11-15 23:25:46

    attn: people who don't keep up with meaningless news.

    the cover art is changed. it is getting restocked all over the good ol' usa at the three corporate chains that carry this disc one week from the release date. this is limited edition baby. sell it on ebay to 13 year olds!

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-11-15 22:07:30

    sorry, i let my retarded little brother write some of those sentences, my point still stands though

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    - they were able to keep this cover art?

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-11-15 22:06:12

    wow even though this cd is not produced by Drive Thru it sill manages to get 2.5 stars. Who the fuck was expecting 10 new songs in this "live" cd, anyone?? I mean come on it was always going to be that Lechuza was the bands favourite album and so songs are going to be sung live. Anyone who knows thier last few sets knew what to expect. Yea the cover and title may be "different" but for any fenix tx fans this is what was expected and hell they sound as good as ever so shut up about things that any recent fan would know would not make the album.

    Moo


    you pretty much point out that this was for the fans that knew what their set was like and what a "fan" would expect, therefore a 2.5 is a perfect scor. right down the middle, if your a die hard fan, you will eat it up and you can probably add another one and a half stars to it...if you dont like the band, you will stay away...

    but, another thing. i never listened to lechuza, but i had the riverfenix full length, and knew some of those songs, if fenix knew this was going to be recorded for sale, you would think they would work in more of their older songs in as well...

    whatever.

    i thought they were going to change that coverart

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 9:47 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    wow even though this cd is not produced by Drive Thru it sill manages to get 2.5 stars. Who the fuck was expecting 10 new songs in this "live" cd, anyone?? I mean come on it was always going to be that Lechuza was the bands favourite album and so songs are going to be sung live. Anyone who knows thier last few sets knew what to expect. Yea the cover and title may be "different" but for any fenix tx fans this is what was expected and hell they sound as good as ever so shut up about things that any recent fan would know would not make the album.

    Moo

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-11-15 21:43:12

    they didnt change the cover art?

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 6:06 PM (EST)

    weren't they changing the cover art?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 3:55 PM (EST)

    prince is a fucking weirdo, slayer rocks

    Posted by Flowbee on 2005-11-15 13:17:27
    My Score:

    2. On live albums the encore should be on a seperate disc.

    Haha, score is for that comment alone.

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-11-15 13:04:09

    i thought they had to change the cover art

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by poopypants on 2005-11-15 11:43:15
    My Score:

    what a pointless live album...a band w/ 2 full lengths, and no new material in 4.5 years. right.

    paul

    ps. way to get sued over the cover too dipshits

    Posted by sickboi on 2005-11-15 11:41:41

    Cha-ching!$$$$$$$$

    That's the sound of your anticipated cash-in on this bullshit.

    Its just too bad your register is full of pennies.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 11:13 AM (EST)

    which draws its name from two legendary but polarizing acts of the 1980

    HA. There are some funny clauses in here. A for Effort, Bri-Guy, you fucking buttbadger.

    Posted by TheNightProwler on 2005-11-15 10:41:30

    Another band covering "Fortunate Son?"

    What complete lack of originality in picking a cover song.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 10:22 AM (EST)

    i hope slayer eats these guys. on a side not, reign in blood may be one of the top 5 metal albums of all time

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 9:59 AM (EST)

    ef this band.

    Posted by aahhhh on 2005-11-15 09:26:00

    this shouldnt have been recorded on the first night of the reunion, they dont sound as polished as they should. also, the song selection is pretty weak. its missing jolly green dumbass and rooster song, at the very least.

    Posted by superdude on 2005-11-15 08:04:39

    This review was pretty good, but here's how I would make it better:

    1. What about their proverbial belt buckles? Do they have those scolling ones?

    2. On live albums the encore should be on a seperate disc.

    3. So did they play with Prince and Slayer?

    Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-11-15 04:31:23

    pretty much exactly what colin said.

    nostalgia can barely save this.

    Posted by Godfather on 2005-11-15 02:30:59

    on a somewhat related note, ashlee simpson now has a tribute album

    i wish i was kidding

    Posted by swingline on 2005-11-15 02:13:26

    a lot of gay in the butt. live.

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2005-11-15 02:08:27

    Prince couldn't ruin this album, but Fenix TX could.
    -Dante

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 2:03 AM (EST)

    yah this disc would have been good, but why the hell are their no songs from the S/T?! there is also no rare songs, like jaw, or obleek. serioulsly, why couldn't they at least make it even with the songs they put on there, there is waaay waaay too much lechuza. i hope when i see them they don't play alot of the lechuza stuff. i like lechuza , but the s/t is soo damn nostaligic and it is better. ANY ONE go to the shows, what is the effing SET LIST?

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-11-15 01:29:53
    My Score:

    "Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-11-15 00:59:20

    I thought they had to change the cover art.
    "

    I think the first shipment of the album has the old artwork on it and everything since then is updated with newer stuff. I know my friend got one with the artwork above on it.

    Sorry for double post.

    I was never really into this band.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 1:13 AM (EST)

    da band balows.

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-11-15 01:06:21

    yeah, i tried listening to this, but it sucks

    i think everyone grew out of this band

    Posted by colin on 2005-11-15 01:01:13

    fuck this shit, all their best songs are totally left out of the loop. i was a big riverfenix fan back in teh day, and let's see what isn't on this:

    gboh
    speechless
    ben
    rooster song
    no lie
    jolly green apple toothpaste (or whatever the fuck its called)

    lame release for a live cd.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-11-15 00:59:20

    I thought they had to change the cover art.