Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

The Formaldehyde Junkies

The Formaldehyde Junkies [7 inch] (2006)
Fashionable Idiots

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

Contributed by: WilliamMarinovic
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on August 4th 2006

The underground is just as susceptible to shallow trends and crappy bands as the mainstream, and when I heard about another band trying to pass themselves off as "`80s hardcore," I couldn't help but suspect it was just another Voorhees or Charles Bronson rip-off. For every Regulations, Career Suicide and Surf Nazis Must Die, there must be about a hundred shitty bands trying to copy trends that were tired about a decade ago.

The Formaldehyde Junkies now join the ranks of the elite hardcore units across the globe with their style of old-school thrash. These four songs are brief, angry, primitive four-chord thrashers that emphasive catchiness as much as speed. To say that the production values are "retro" would be generous, but the Junkies do not sound like a copyist band. Although their sound is remarkably similar to the Teen Idles, Necros, SOA, etc., one would be hard-pressed to find who they're completely stealing from. If this release had the multi-guitar harmonies and production values of Bane, I would not have bothered reviewing it.

"Hardcore"/"thrash" revival is still pretty big, but this band is good enough to outlast that and their music will hopefully become a trademark of this era of underground hardcore.

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

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.

JakeRazor (December 19, 2006)

This ep is mind-blowing!

Anonymous (August 10, 2006)

Score is for this band's facetious treatment of formaldehyde addiction.

There is nothing funny about not being able to make it through the day without another hit of that sweet, sweet, preservation juice.

Scruffy (August 8, 2006)

"The fat wreck kids are getting restless."

Eh, not me. I actually thought the review was pretty good. It's a seven inch. It shouldn't be a long review. And I've never been against giving comparisons to other bands in a review, especially if they're apt.

feeeding5000 (August 6, 2006)

Oh, and what I'm reviewing next:
Doom- Total Doom
Brunt of It - Certain Uncertainty
Skatopia - ska fest in Providence, RI

feeeding5000 (August 6, 2006)

How come when I post a review for Total Wreck, people say pretty much positive stuff, but then when Will does a similar (though less fawning) review, people talk shit about him? I sense a few grudges...

SlowStupidHungry (August 6, 2006)

So I guess that makes it a good review?

Anonymous (August 6, 2006)

bad review of my favorite shitty band.

Anonymous (August 5, 2006)

Speaking of the "hardcore elite", Capitalist Casualties were fucking awesome live. They still open with "bad habits".

-Ken

wehavecomeforyourchildren (August 5, 2006)

didn't they mention in the MRR interview that these guys were breaking up?

SlowStupidHungry (August 5, 2006)

There are ways of getting more popular without endorsing a magazine that commodifies and distorts the underground scene. In that sense, it's stupid.

On the other hand, I've already heard Retching Red and know they're cool, so I don't care.

inagreendase (August 4, 2006)

Uh, ads in a magazine like AP would be wonderful unless you prefer a band stuck preaching to the same choir ad nauseum.

SlowStupidHungry (August 4, 2006)

Retching Red are awesome. Dunno about any ads in AP, though that would be lame, I really don't care since when I listen to their album I'm not distracted by any attempt to "sell out" or whatev's.

Speaking of female fronted bands, MIKA MIKO tonight! I'm stoked and might review the show.

theOneTrueBill (August 4, 2006)

Retching Red is pretty cool. Any band that can have a song with the lyrics "I'm gonna kill your fucking rooster" is A-OK in my book.

gladimnotemo (August 4, 2006)

Retching Red? I have never heard anyone talk about that band seriously, but I've seen ads in Alternative Press (and an interview with that girl), so I'm not taking it too seriously.

Also, DEADFALL, who have written songs apparently about this site.

"I bet you get excited to see your words on screen"

drewcifer (August 4, 2006)

"Theres anough namedropping in this thread to make one puke."

HA!

SlowStupidHungry (August 4, 2006)

Good bands both, but bandana thrash is over, my friend!!!

Anonymous (August 4, 2006)

What happens fucking next and scholastic fucking deth are all that will ever matter.

Anonymous (August 4, 2006)

Theres anough namedropping in this thread to make one puke.

skankin_in_the_pit (August 4, 2006)

Yeah, everyone really should check out Direct Control and Career Suicide. I'm pretty sure Dante wasn't serious, but since other people are doing it I'll throw out a few other current favorites...

Retching Red, Wasted Time, Set To Explode, Instant Asshole, Black S.S.

jamespastepunk (August 4, 2006)

If people are actually interested in listening to this band, you can download an mp3 if you click here and scroll down.

gladimnotemo (August 4, 2006)

Bruce Banner has a new singer, I think...a girl? The guy from DS-13 left to play in Imperial Leather...maybe.

Bands also worth mentioning include:

- Direct Control (fast early 80s hardcore, very Minor Threat / CoC-ish, i suppose)
- Government Warning (go buy the 7" right the fuck now, it's the lost 7" from the Dischord 1981 catalog. I shit you not. Perfect in every way.)
- Amdi Petersens' Arme (but they broke up, duh)
- Terminal State (the roughest and shortest of the bunch, I think. The 12" is under 8 minutes?)

Deranged Records, Fashionable Idiots, No Way Records, some stuff on Havoc, Feral Ward, etc etc. DO IT ALL.

theOneTrueBill (August 4, 2006)

And I'm with Will, I don't see the harm in naming similar sounding bands in a review. You're supposed to describe what a band sounds like, and unless they're so popular where everyone already knows, then having a few points of reference is not a band thing. Simply saying "Early 80's" hardcore won't do because even in that there's a lot of variety.

theOneTrueBill (August 4, 2006)

Any band that tries to play late 80's youth crew should be given the Old Yeller treatment. Seriously.

SlowStupidHungry (August 4, 2006)

I don't know if you're trying to knock it, but not as many bands play this style of hardcore as do try to copy late 80's youth crew.

On the off chance you weren't trying to rip on me and my tastes, some popular bands of the moment include Fucked Up (their new one is kind of weird, but still firmly rooted in the 80's hardcore), Das Oath, Total Fury, The Horror, Bruce Banner (did they break up?), Look Back and Laugh, Career Suicide and Out of Step.

Dante3000 (August 4, 2006)

So....80's hardcore eh?
Can anyone recomend a few bands who play that style of music? For the life of me I can't think of eight.
-Dante

SlowStupidHungry (August 4, 2006)

Oh yeah, even if this review scared all of you insecure, ignorant mall punk kids (by "namedropping" fairly popular bands- "namedropping" in the context of comparative description... hm, sorry), you should still check out this band. They're great.

SlowStupidHungry (August 4, 2006)

The fat wreck kids are getting restless.

gladimnotemo (August 4, 2006)

Seriously, this record is under four minutes. IF you don't like this, GTFO out of punk now.

Anonymous (August 4, 2006)

worst review ever?

skankin_in_the_pit (August 4, 2006)

Awesome band. Probably my second favorite 7"/EP released this year behind the new Limp Wrist.

gladimnotemo (August 4, 2006)

I think the cover goes the other way.

I just listened to this. It makes me want to drink paint thinner.

jamespastepunk (August 4, 2006)

Hahahahahahaha!