OXBOY

There's certainly plenty of good sounds coming out of New Zealand at the moment and the 'Ecstasy's Not Life' seven track EP by Oxboy is no exception to the rule.

Released by Hit Your Head Music and recorded over three days by Alec Withers (Devil's Elbow, Tempo 38, Angel Hammer, Servo) and mastered by Ian G. Morris (Th' Dudes, Dave Dobbyn and When the Cats Away) the band is reported as being stoked with the result and truly the production quality can't be faulted. With just the right amount of harshness for this type of release, these tracks will get your head banging until your neck breaks.

The fourth song entitled Disconnect is my favourite. Slowly building an impenetrable wall of sound and with quieter moments to give room to the vocals, it soon locks it up with unrelenting powerful riffs and driving drums that bring the house down. What's that you say? I can't hear you co's the music's too loud.

There's a drinking theme throughout, which hits on the f u mentality of punk rock music. Driven by phat guitars, kick arse drumbeats and bass-lines to blow your mind, this debut release is intense! Sounding a bit like Rage Against the Machine crossed with Sommerset, Dirty Rotten Imbeciles or Bad Religion; Oxboy who hail from Hawkes Bay hit you hard right up the cranium with moshing musical madness.

Some social commentary particularly with the fifth track If I Was... continues the hardcore in your face attitude. Kind of Americanised spoken vox doesn't always work for me but there's no lack of punk rock attitude portrayed with the style. Overall a sterling performance captured in all its rawness.

'Ecstasy's Not Life' is well worth a listen. - music.net.nz

Hawkes Bay four-piece Oxboy formed nearly two years ago, but this is their first release, a seven-song EP called Ecstasy's Not Life. The band play a 90s-style of guitar-driven hard rock, with hints of metal and Suicidal Tendencies-esque hardcore.

The aggressive stylings mean you know straight away you are not going to get any touching ballads or songs about girls. This is all macho stuff, laced with threats of violence and, oddly, legal action on "If I Was..." ("Careful what you and what you do/If I lived in America, I'd fuckin' sue"). Things do tend to get a bit nu metal in places, but Oxboy bring a solid sense of song structure and make up for lyrical weakness with some great call-and-response moments and plenty of shout-along choruses that represent the highlights of Ecstasy's Not Life.

It could be tempting to write this off as throwback jock-rock, but do so would be to sell Oxboy short. There is an honesty and refreshing lack of pretension here. This is not a band looking to take a political stance, nor trying to make some great artistic statement. They just want to play hard rock and have a good time and dammit, they do a pretty fucking good job at it.

The somewhat muddy production undercuts things; this is the kind of music that demands a razor-sharp sound. The riffs manage to be direct and memorable without being over-technical and it seems clear that Oxboy would be elevated by a clear, cutting mix to bring their strengths to the fore.

As a debut, Ecstasy's Not Life shows remarkable assuredness from Oxboy and a clear talent to fashion excellent songs around muscular riffs. With the refinement that will surely come as the band establishes itself, there is plenty here for future releases to build on. - Punk As

Napier punk/rock/metal/hardcore band Oxboy's new album, Ecstasy's Not Life is to be released on June 25 - and to celebrate they're having a party at The Cabana.

Formed in 2008, Oxboy played their first gig in a warehouse in pandora, supported by Midnight Metal Symphony (now known as Horusset). They have played in various venues in the Bay, including Milonga Bar, HB Opera House for New Zealand Music Month and The Cabana. Their biggest gig to date was the Rock On Meg fundraiser for a six-year-old with cancer, which played to a packed house.

"The guys from Horusset have supported us from day one," says drummer, Livid. "The great thing about playing in our home town is that all the local bands we have played with here have been nothing but encouraging and supportive. It's great to be involved in the Hawke's Bay music scene where everyone - bands, mates, fellow musicians - is supportive of each other, because it feeds and develops a greater music scene here."

Oxboy members say they have many musical influences and strive to create their own unique sound. Ecstasy's Not Life took around three days to record at Hit Your Head Music, where it was produced and engineered by Alec Withers (Devils Elbow) and mastered by Ian Morris (Th' Dudes). The process went without a hitch and Oxboy members say they are "stoked" to have these experienced musicians on board to add their magic touch to the CD.

"As far as songwriting goes, we work together really well," they say. "We write our own parts with each others' input - it's definately not a dictatorship! We are all mates and aim to keep making our music a fun and passionate process, enjoying watching our creations grow into something we are proud of. We attempt to make songs that allow the audience to take from them what they will, our lyrics are not always to be taken literally, they are drawn from life experiences that people can relate to in their own way."

With three more new tunes and a music video in the pipeline, Oxboy have no plays to slow down, as they concentrate on getting their music out there and heard. Hear it for yourself on Friday, June 25 at The Cabana, where Oxboy will be supported by Horusset, Billys Gospel and Dead Heroes Collective. Tickets are $10, which also gets you a copy of the Ecstasy's Not Life EP. - Napier Mail

They describe their music as an "up-tempo, hard-hitting, in your face, new era mix". They hail from the Hawke's Bay, and they are releasing their debut album Ecstasy's not life.

Oxboy is bringing its unique sound to The Cabana on Friday to release its album, which has seven original tracks.

From humble beginnings as a guy and a girl jamming in a garage, Oxboy officially formed in late 2008, consisting of Kane Riley on guitar, Brendan Hogg 'Hogga' on bass guitar, James Harold on vocals, and Olivia Strawbridge 'Livid' on drums.

Since then, Oxboy has played at various venues in the bay, including Milonga Bar, Hastings Opera House for New Zealand Music Month, and The Cabana.

Its biggest gig was the successful Rock On Meg fundraiser for a six-year-old Hawke's Bay girl with cancer, which was organised by Kane Riley at The Cabana.

The debut album contains influences of punk, rock, metal, hardcore and rap and was recorded at Hit Your Head Music by Alec Withers and mastered by Ian G. Morris.

They create all of their songs together by writing their own parts and getting each other's input.

"It's definately not a dictatorship," says Olivia. "We are all mates and aim to keep our music a fun and passionate process, and enjoy watching our creations grow into something we are proud of."

She says their lyrics are "drawn from life experiences that people can relate to in their own way."

Bands Billy's Gospel, Dead Heroes Collective, and Horusset will be playing at the CD Release party.

"This is the great thing about playing in our hometown - all the local bands we have played with in the bay have been nothing but encouraging and supportive," says Olivia. - The Napier Courier