The Decline’s debut EP, The Same Kind, is the complete opposite to a box of chocolates. With this album, you know exactly what you’re going to get. It’s punk rock. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. It doesn’t try to be overly complex or break any rules of the genre, it’s just 5 songs of punk rock, plain and simple. And it’s called ‘The Same Kind’. Oh the irony.
But let me make one thing clear: this is a good thing. A very, VERY good thing. Think about all your favourite major-label punk bands. Now think about what their first couple of albums sounded like- you know, before they sold out for cash and/or turned into whiney, middle aged emos (those bastards). Now you know what to expect from this EP.
The album starts off super fast and stays that way until the end. It’s full of catchy hooks, riffs and melodies, and has a distinctly ‘Aussie’ style. Maybe it’s because of the music, or maybe it’s because the vocals brought back memories of Frenzal Rhomb. Either way, the album sounds great and is flawlessly mixed.
Speaking of vocals, the lyrics on this album are very politically-charged. Okay, a couple of songs seem to be talking about relationships, but then you get to Life Sentence, an interesting rant about the death penalty. And of course, there’s the title track which attacks the war in Iraq, and the highlight track No Way Hose, which talks about racism towards Arabs. Plus it samples South Park, which earns extra points in my books.
Despite being too damn short (as all EPs are), this EP is excellent. It’s so much fun to listen to and it leaves you wanting more (good thing they’re recording an LP then). If you’re into the same kind of music that has been described in this review, then this EP is a must-own!
MARK V
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