1989 is back in the form of
Squad Five-O. This band's roots were once firmly planted in punk soil, now they have released a disc that teeters between '80s hair bands and '80s punk. The title track and "Apocolypse" are
L.A. Guns. There's nothing new offered here. Cuts like "Renegade," and "Lost Boys," are power chord retreads. These cuts are so ridiculously generic that practically every '80s riff is being used in one form or another. One of the only redeeming moments on the disc is courtesy of the song "Restless Youth." Vocalist Jeff Fortson does his very best
Bret Michael's impression as the cut comes off as quite
Poison-esque. Lyrically, the song boasts an anthem-like chorus and exhibits a feel that actually gets the toes tapping. Even if this genre is your style, it's hard to embrace the bands garage band stylings through an entire release. Imagine if you will a bad
Faster Pussycat! ~ Steven Losey