Complete with names seemingly straight out of the pages of Maximumrocknroll, the five-piece rock & roll lineup of
Cyanide Pills re-create the sounds of late-'70s U.K. punk in their music. If it sounds like a tried-and-true formula, that's because it is. But the trick to their success is that they are very good at their craft. Vocalist Phil Privilege delivers catchy
Buzzcocks hooks with snotty affliction, sounding hoarse and squeaky but tuneful, while the guitar tag team of Alex Arson and Si Pinkeye have not only named themselves with aliases nearly as cool as
Johnny Thunders and Rat Scabies but they beat out barre chords with the same raw, energetic attitude. Drummer Chris Wrist and bassist Alarick "The Trick" never slow from their excitable "one-and-two-and-one-and-two" rhythm, and like their heroes,
the Dickies and
the Damned, they never wear out their welcome by playing for much longer than three minutes, keeping the songs short and sweet (or if you prefer, quick and nasty). Lovers of the first album will be pleased to find more of the same action-packed, classic-sounding ditties. They may claim to be
Still Bored on their sophomore album, but they sound like they had a lot of fun writing and recording this one. Some of the best moments come midway through, when they change up their style slightly and flirt with power pop. Check out the "whoa oh ohs" in "I Let You Down," the jangling open chords and handclaps of "Outta Nowhere," and the sweet harmonies of "Formica" for signs of a possible new direction. It only seems logical to trace rock history and move closer to new wave by mirroring the Records and
the Plimsouls once you master the art of British punk. Of course, they imitate this style perfectly too. ~ Jason Lymangrover