Since the release of their self-titled sophomore record in 2012, Off! have been firing up mosh pits with songs that simply scream for venues to be trashed. Now, the band return with Wasted Years, an album that delivers the group’s trademark intensity.
Lead singer Keith Morris shows no signs of ever holding back. The former Black Flag singer and Circle Jerks frontman belts out tune after tune, practically spewing angst and attitude.
‘Red White And Black’ starts with that definitive feedback sound before erupting into typical hardcore-punk musings, telling the world “what goes around comes around”. But there’s no references to Justin Timberlake here – instead, the sentiment is more of a wake-up call to a guy who’s being labelled “a living punchline”. “Arrogance is bliss,” Morris moans, “who gives a shit?”
‘Legion Of Evil’ has a sick little riff that halves the tempo before bringing it back into overdrive. In ‘Exorcised’, there’s a nice bit of emphasis on the phrase “go get fucked”. This attitude is also seeped into ‘Time’s Not On Your Side’, which sends the message of “you fuck with me, I’ll fuck with you” amongst drawling and messy guitar solos.
It all concludes with the track ‘Wasted Years’, one minute and 18 seconds of anarchic, thrashing noise that serves as quite a delightful send-off.
Anything you get from Off! is forceful, dynamic, and absolute gnarly off-the-wall punk. Wasted Years is short, simple, and a little chaotic – and you can’t expect anything more.
Listen to ‘Void You Out’ from Wasted Years here:
