Album Review: The Bronx - "Bronx VI"

 

Still one of the most brutally uncompromising punk bands out there, it's good to see the Bronx back. after a four year gap since their previous album Bronx V and as the opening duo of White Shadow and Superbloom kick things into gear with the group's trademark brand of surprisingly melodic hardcore, things very much appear to be business as usual with both songs hitting you with all the subtlety of a brick to the face.

Yet as the album goes on, there's undeniable hints of subtlety here to keep this from becoming too one-dimensional. It's there in the way that Watering The Well coasts along on what appears to be a speeded up Stones riff before Peace Pipe takes the album off in an unexpected more mid-paced direction to good effect, changing up the pace a bit where it's needed. Mexican Summer even has a Latino feel to it similar to the group's alter ego Mariachi El Bronx while closing Participation Trophy takes a grim look at human extinction over a rolling riff.

For the most part though, Bronx VI is the same driving, ferocious but deceptively melodic punk rock as exemplified by the driving High Five and Jack Of All Trades and the skullbustingly heavy Breaking News that the Bronx have made their name with over the years and it's to their immense credit that two decades into their career, they're still putting out albums of this quality. Definitely a more than worthy addition to this band's impressive back catalogue.

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NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)

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