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The Australian punk music scene has been become somewhat of a joke. Such a crisis has led me to make the decision to disassociate myself with it until the current trend dies, and it will. A pretentious move I know, but allow me to elaborate on the situation. Every square inch of my favourite music stores are occupied by fashion obsessed thirteen-year-olds, drooling over the new Parkway Drive and Story of the Year releases. Terrible Atreyu wannabe bands playing to bandana-clad ninja fighters in large circles imitating Chuck Norris moves or a second-rate David Carradine. Makeup, girls pants and this thing <3 (!)...I can’t handle this shiznit. I’m sure this goes on everywhere, but it’s only just now getting really, really big here. The vast majority of bands who categorize themselves under this genre play generic metalcore or boring as fuck new wave emo. Let me introduce you the minority.

Nearly a decade in the making, consisting primarily of them touring their asses off to an ever-growing, welcomely diverse fanbase, the Disables have finally released their debut album. Their only previous release The Lackey Country was well received, but couldn’t keep fans amused for long. The band posted two tracks on their sites, “Reason for the Treason” and “Damned If You Do,” which was enough to make fans near soil themselves in anticipation. Now the album has finally been released, and I can’t imagine any Disablephile being disappointed in the results.

The album starts off as it does with the band's live shows with the quick paced political anthem “Asio.” It sounds nearly as good as it does live, and if it doesn’t get you enthused and shouting along to the chorus, I would expect you to be either heavily sedated or one of the bad, bad people the song references. The two aforementioned tracks follow this, and I recommend that if you are unfamiliar with the group, you should go to their site and download the tracks.

As I am not a fan of track-by-track reviews I shall now cease analysing each individual song and list my personal preferences. Fan favourite “The Girls Don’t Like Us Coz We Don’t Play Football” is amazing, as are “This Is Your Life,” “Bankrupt,” “Steal the Mic”...in fact, they are all great tracks in their own rights. My only disappointment is that their cover of Sting’s “I Hung My Head” is not included, though I suspect this is due to legal reasons.

At this point I should probably point out the musical characteristics of the band. They play straight-outta-the-`70s punk rock, mixed with the newer, more experimental variations on the genre á la Against Me! They also have their own unique spin, that being the heavy Australian Accents. I feel this is one of the band's best traits, as it demonstrates the cultural identity that most Australian bands lack.

I can honestly say that this is one of my favourite releases of 2005, regardless of genre. It’s the second best thing to their amazing live show; any fan of “true punk” should definitely pick up a copy to support a dying breed: Good Australian punk music.

I’m eagerly awaiting the followup; I just hope it doesn’t take another ten years.



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    Posted by wastachuck on 2007-02-24 21:36:55
    My Score:

    This cd is fuckin awesome. These doods are the best thing in Australia apart from Frenzal Rhomb

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 2:43 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Great band good album fantastic live. Comparing story of the year with parkway drive? Automatic loss of 3 points there. Parkway Drive are the best thing out of this country at the moment music wise. Get over your worrying about fashion trends and just listen to the music.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 17, 2006 at 2:19 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    You are absolutely right, and especially about them kicking ass live, which they proceed to do time and time again. They didn't include the Sting cover because it is only one in a sea of covers they do live, they can't include all of them.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at 11:45 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Yet another terrible bias peaice of crap.....they first paragraph just runined teh rest of your not to bad review...this blend of stright up punk isnt to bad at all yet how the hell can u even compare it with parkway drive circle moshpit spin kicks flying fists etc u dont understand one bti do u.....they are two compleetly different scenes, sure u dont like it, obvously u cant handle anything from the norm (just stick to your old school 3 chord boring same left wing pollitical crap) you obviously have a seirous bias agasint anything that is considered modern day hardcore metalcore (oh dear thats too scene sorry.....lick my ass) i for one are amazed at the state of the australian hardcore scene, i think u have had your time mate, goodbye

    Posted by formerly-blade-runner on 2005-11-29 02:02:10

    No, I'm not proud.

    It's actually rather disheartening.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 28, 2005 at 10:19 PM (EST)

    "I could make a list ten times the size of that of shitty Australian bands"

    you should be proud.

    Posted by formerly-blade-runner on 2005-11-28 21:54:30
    My Score:

    I'm pretty sure I go to my share of shows.

    Yes, I am aware that there are some great bands in Australia at the moment that I will continue to spport.
    But let me reiterate my point, THEY are THE MINORITY

    I could make a list ten times the size of that of shitty Australian bands.

    Besides half my point wasn't about the music, but the whole scene in general.

    I appreciate your enthusiasm for quality music, but it seems you've missed the entire point of my "bitching".

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 28, 2005 at 7:56 PM (EST)

    get out to some shows to find new music instead of looking for it in record stores and bitching about the lack of it on websites clown.

    australian has MANY good bands at the moment, you just need to open your eyes.
    - Eleventh He Reaches London
    - Realist Few
    - The Optionals
    - The Black Market
    - Zombie Ghost Train
    - Anarchoi
    - Bad Day Down
    - Brazen Hearts
    - Away From Now
    - The Dead Walk

    how many more do you want?

    Posted by formerly-blade-runner on 2005-11-28 08:53:29

    Yes, walk into Skinnys and you will find this, for a reasonable price.

    In fact they launched the album in Skinnys a couple of months ago. They played the entire album before an incredibly cramped crowd, who were taking up the entirity of the tiny store.

    Good Times.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 28, 2005 at 1:00 AM (EST)

    I just listened to this band and they are awesome.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 28, 2005 at 12:18 AM (EST)

    Hey man, fill me in on some shit - Are the Onyas still together/ever reunited? Does Iron Sausage still play shows?

    Thanks, Ken

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 27, 2005 at 9:37 PM (EST)

    gayest album cover ever. in fact, i dont even want to listen to this band just because of that stupid ass picture. oh man, a little school girl with a gun pointing at the camera. shit, thats never been done.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 27, 2005 at 9:37 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Yeh, I'm with this dude and sick of all the trends. sick of all the new emocore fuck stuff in which their singers are either too lazy or not talented enough to think of a decent melody. Girls and guys in their straight jeans who "totally radxcore" love the new Green Day and have never even heard of Kerplunk. I saw disables play at Shed 5 a small run down venue here on the coast. They were awesome and they keep the true punk scene alive...

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 27, 2005 at 7:29 PM (EST)

    i saw these guys play over at the gabba hotel back in 2000. and asked them if i could buy their cd anywhere. they told me it would be in skinny's pretty soon.
    any time im back in brisbane and i have a spare hour or so in the city, i go to skinny's. i have watched the store change its rack configurations, a few times, and never ever found a dissables cd.
    you mean to tell me i can finally walk into that shop and get the cd im after?
    i cant even remember what they sound like anymore.

    Posted by Scruffy on 2005-11-27 18:21:46

    Speaking about Australian punk, I just found out that most of Caustic Soda's stuff is available on Australia's mp3.com site for free!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 27, 2005 at 4:12 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    score is for the first sentences of the review..hey aussies listen to radio birdman & the saints

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 27, 2005 at 8:37 AM (EST)

    kinda like the good parts of early dropkick murphys. in other words, pretty damn good.

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