THE BLACK HALOS
"Alive
Without Control" (Liquor and Poker; 2005)
Reviewed by Mike SOS
Grizzled Canadian punk vets The Black Halos pay homage to the punkers of the days of yore on "Alive Without Control," a 13-track tilt-a-whirl ride that takes the punk out of the mall and puts it back in the gutter where it belongs.
Displaying equal amounts of attitude and musicianship, songs like the fist pumping title track and "Three Sheets to the Wind" stick in your head like gum on the bottom of your shoe (and are just as hard to remove) while the Social Distortion-esque "Darkest Corners" echoes sentiments of a band that has been through the ringer and still stands today to tell about it.
Sneering its way back from the dead, The Black Halos have lovingly recreated the days of too much booze, too little sleep, and maximum rock'n'roll onto an album whose sleaze rock leanings and live fast / die young creed will have protectors of the punk rock crown sighing in relief knowing there are a few bands like them still around.
For more information, check out http://www.blackhalos.net.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2006 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 18 Nov 2024 12:18:23 -0500.
