No matter how old that I get (not that I'm pushing retirement by any standards), I retain the same appreciation I've had since I was 14 for catchy punk rock. It's been ingrained in me longer than that, even: I still remember hearing Green Day's "Basket Case" for the first time at the age of eight, and annoying the hell out of my parents by singing the words I could remember all over the house.
Some of that is to say a band doesn't really have to be all that innovative, or even overly talented, to be enjoyable. Allston, Massachusetts' Pericles are benefactors of this viewpoint, because while nothing on Fuck Your Etiquette is remotely new or revolutionary, it's enjoyable to listen to the band play some great punk rock, and at times, turn up the intensity for a more hardcore approach.
Either way, they keep it fast-paced, and they keep it hard-hitting. As soon as the distorted riffing for "Ol' Amercian Booger" kicks in, it's plenty clear that it's going to be, if nothing else, a very bumpy ride. Pulling out all the stops in the record's first two minutes, Pericles mix some smooth guitar solos as a melodic undercurrent to the pummeling riffing that's at the forefront, before slowing quickly down to a more mellowed groove. The quick transition is a smooth one though, and it helps to introduce the raspy vocals in a more reserved manner than they'll appear on the rest of the album.
And they waste little time introducing that harsher side of their music.
"The Gringo Has Come" keeps a much more simple, abrasive rhythm, and the raspy vocals become much more intense, much more in your face. The way they approached constructing this album was an interesting one, as many of the songs seem to reveal additional facets of the music that previous tracks did not. It's almost like they're hiding specific facets of their recording to be released at very specific times. "The Gringo Has Come" was one example of that, and "Me Nombre Es Pericles!" is another. An all-out vocal assault, the intensity brought on this track is something that was previously kept to a minimum, but it's quite obvious by this point that they're done holding back. "Guardian Cowboy" continues the flow with some of the best guitar playing on the album; the fluid and melodic progressions carry another quick and vigorous offering with a versatility they had yet to bring out.
Yes, you've probably heard it before. But if you've liked it once, you'll like it again.