The New York City punks 45 Adapters return with the frontman Pickabar and bassist Carlos alongside a trio of new members for these 12 anthemic and energetic tracks that populate this first formal LP.
The hard hitting still very soulful and tuneful title track gets the listen started with furious drumming and searing guitar work that suits the shouted background vocals. “Coming Up Empty” then follows with a calmer pace that discusses the shortcomings of social media, celebrity worship and the general downfall of modern society, and this leads into thumping and melodic punk rock of “But I Can’t”.
Making our way into the middle, the scrappy and sing-along friendly “Save The Day” uses playful bass progressions, while “Guilty By Participation” pairs warm, nearly intimate guitar playing with a rougher rhythm section that touches on nostalgic hardcore ideas. “Refuse To Die” then is perfectly suited for a mosh pit or a dance floor.
Landing close to the end, “Con Man From Queens” is full of grit and well timed gang vocals, but it’s the harmonic yet rugged “Those Who Quit” that alone is worth the price of admission. The last track, “Are You Down”, is definitely on the gentler side of the equation, too, and is almost dreamy in its own punk rock sort of way.
45 Adapters live by the words “Dress Well, Drink Heavily. Don’t Trust Anyone Who Doesn’t Dance”, and their Oi!, glam, mod, pub rock and skinhead influences sure do support that ideology. The new members of the band certainly give this listen a bit of a boost, and after 15 years together, this “debut” album that draws comparisons to Street Dogs, Cock Sparrer, Dropkick Murphys, Templars and Otis Redding should sufficiently satisfy any punk fan.
