Punknews.org LogoPunknews.org

Sign In | create an account

 
Actionmen - The Game (Cover Artwork)

Actionmen

The Game (2007)
Europe

Reviewer Rating:


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


Published on June 3rd 2008


I don't know what you'd label this genre-wise as... You'd probably think they're from some hidden eastern European country, it's so insane... It feels like I'm helping write the trailer for some horror movie... It's really fucking good.

These guys are perhaps some of the most insane guys around. I don't know what goes on in parts of Italy but melodic-funky-scary-speedy-technical-skatepunk seems to be on the rise. Actionmen's debut full-length is one of a kind and insanely good founded upon the fast late `90s skatepunk sound but throwing in genius technicalities.

Take for instance the first track, which begins with a heavy metal duel yet soon you're listening to fairly simple skatepunk with lyrics inspired by something I don't even wanna think of: "You can't stand / It's like when you clean your butt and watch your shitty toilet paper." Tracks like "Jen S." switches from friendly pop-punk to thrash/metal -- perhaps why their MySpace genres are 'Thrash' and 'Comedy.'

Seriously though, the music on this disc is superb and to think it's their first full-length is difficult to believe. Top quality drumming handling great fills with a blistering pace throughout and the guitars are sublime too, playing skatepunk to perfection with the odd addition of metal and guitar solos pulled off perfectly. Throw in the bass lines in "Tales from Germany" and this band could be a cover band for anyone -- every song provides so much yet provides such a vibrant, massive and loud sound in such a tight and fast format.

The Game is perfect for fans of Frenzal Rhomb's comedy (although perhaps suited better for potheads and drunks in Actionmen's case?) but with really tight and technical skatepunk. It's difficult to write about a CD seriously with song titles like "Paster of Muppets" and "Porn Actor" but this is a band who takes influence off anyone; however, they combine the roots of fast punk rock so many crave for perfectly. If you want to go around arguing what's punk rock -- listen to this and you should understand why punk rock's such a wide genre these days, bands pushing boundaries to keep things fresh.

Oh and P.S. I know no Italian really but the hidden part of the last track "My Inspiration's Gone" scares the living shit out of me, but I keep coming back for more of it...



People who liked this also liked:
Fact - The Fine Day Never LastThe Fullblast - Short Controlled BurstsJet Market - The Reverse of the MedalBelvedere - 'Twas Hell Said Former ChildBelvedere - Fast Forward Eats The TapeStretch Arm Strong - Rituals Of LifeSatanic Surfers - Going Nowhere FastRaised Fist - DedicationAdhesive - SideburnerChoke - Slow Fade Or: How I Learned To Question Infinity

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.
    Alien (June 6, 2008)

    This is a weird, sweet album. worth listening to many times.

    VictorIkpeba24 (June 4, 2008)

    Finally this is reviewed here!!

    This spacca il culo, hard!

    Features

    Exclusive Streams

    Newest Reviews

    Punknews.org Team

    Managing Editor

    Adam White

    News Editors

    Kira Wisniewski
    Brittany Strummer
    Andrew Waterfield
    Katy Hardy
    Matthew Baldwin
    Armando Olivas
    John Flynn

    Video Editor

    Chris Moran

    Social Media Editor

    Justin August

    Copy Editor

    Amelia Cline

    Reviews Editor

    Joe Pelone

    Interviews Editor

    Richard Verducci

    Publisher

    Aubin Paul

    ISSN 1710-5366



    © Copyright 1999-2012 Punknews.org



    Other Places to Go

    Punknews.org Flickr Pool