THE DEFICITS

This is quite an intriguing release in that it has an old-school punk aesthetic to it, but with a beefed-up modern sound that brings to mind a Rancid where the members haven’t been so influenced by the Clash. I've read in places that the Deficits are like an electric Defiance, Ohio, but I’m not really getting that when I listen to this, as for most of the EP it’s more comparable to bands like Rancid/etc.

This seven-track EP delivers an adrenaline-fueled blast of punk rock with a vocalist who sounds very much like Tim Armstrong (Rancid) throughout all of the songs.

Opening track “Another 6 Seconds” features a big guitar sound that is really enjoyable to hear and, fortunately, is on most of the tracks here. With “Worlds Apart” and “Hell and Back”, the Deficits don’t let the pace drop whilst continuing to deliver good, quality punk rock.

Things get changed a bit with “TNB”, which starts off a bit like the (English) Beat and actually is done very well. The keyboards really add some warmth to this song and rather than just doing some straightforward ska, the Deficits manage to produce something much less obvious and much more likable than many other bands can offer.

“Old Shitty Drunks” gets the whole shebang back to a more raucous punk approach, albeit with the band displaying an element of restraint in comparison to the opening three tracks.

You can’t turn around these days without coming across another band which has decided to go acoustic somewhere on a record, so it comes as no surprise when the Deficits ease into “Whiskey (feat. JD)” for a more relaxed approach, and one which shows that angst need not be only vented through high-speed rants. If they are to be compared to Defiance, Ohio, then this might be where that shows through but it’s not really hitting me in the head.

The EP ends with the five-minute track “Here’s to Colt 45 So Welcome Armageddon” which, after a slow start, bursts into life and is the perfectly sequenced track to finish with as it has that certain final quality to it.

All in all, this is one of those unexpectedly good finds, where the foundations of punk remain firmly intact but which provides the listener with a thoroughly enjoyable musical experience. - PUNKNEWS.ORG