I’m surprised to see this new full length because I thought the CLASS ASSASSINS broke up. Jamie Vella, a.k.a. Cactus, of SINKIN’ SHIPS, is doing double duty with the new CLASS ASSASSINS line up. The rest of the band is made up of CHAD formerly of BITTER GRIN, Chris formerly of HOCKEY TEETH, and Gary formerly from PROBLEM CHILDREN. As the lineage suggests, CLASS ASSASSINS are a hybrid of oi and melodic punk. And when I say melodic punk I am not talking about the crappy scene defined by bands like RANCID and BAD RELIGION. I am talking something more mid-paced and political in nature and a bit more DIY. They remind me of a more oi version of KNUCKLEHEAD. They play this style of pun because CLASS ASSASSINS were around in early versions of the hardcore scene. In fact, Chad’s involvement goes back to the first wave of the Toronto hardcore scene. He was buds with the guys in CHRONIC SUBMISSION and this association gives the band so much more cred. Well this new full length has none of the gems that defined CHRONIC SUBMISSION’s demo releases. But these guys were poisoned by the GREEN DAY generation of punk. They grew up listening to the old UK oi. Think of the BUSINESS, ANGELIC UPSTARTS, COCK SPARRER, and the like. This bleeds through on the new material. The songs on here are:
1. Crack of Thunder
2. Run for Cover
3. Empty Dollar
4. Outside Looking In
5. You've Got It All Wrong
6. Open Your Eyes
7. Stop the World
8. Going the Distance
9. After the Story
10. A Generation Robbed
11. Buy to Sell
12. Sex and Guns
13. Taking the Fall
And don't forget, Dave the bass player was in Toronto hardcore outfit DIRECT ACTION back in the '80s...
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