BROKEN HEROES "This Is Oi!" Review

Entitling an album “This is Oi!” or something expressing a similar affirmation is not only brave but often ill- conceived. It’s almost guaranteed that that which follows such a title is derivative nonsense saved only by the guarantor that if you scream “This is Oi!” loud enough Skinheads somewhere will listen, and a percentage of those will take your proclamation to heart, even if it is utter tripe.

What is rare in these cases is the deliverance of a project that lives up to its name. Rarer still is that which occurred in my hearing of the first song and title track of this album which provoked me to nod in agreement. This certainly is Oi!

Sounding a little like Bonecrusher collaborating with Belligerent 86, Broken Heroes have tapped into that gruff, grumbling vocal quality and rock ‘n’ roll execution that has become the hallmark of excellence among so many of their East-Coast Oi! counterparts and simultaneously pulled off a quality in their sound that is ruthlessly and relentlessly loyal to even the most traditional elements of the Oi! genre. Whether it’s through classic chant-led choruses, lyrical rejections of politics or explicit endorsements of drinking culture and Skinhead pride, this album is Street Punk par excellence.

The finest moments of this album are certainly “This is Oi!”, “On the Attack”, “Oi! don’t pay the bills”, “Skinhead Not A Politician” and “100% Class”.

I can’t recommend this album highly enough to any fans of the aforementioned groups and also to enthusiasts of The Templars, Evil Conduct, Brassic and Gary Hodges era 4- Skins. Simply, this is music for Skinheads; nothing less. 

IRON CROSS "Est. 1980" Review

Fear not, my comrades; your eyes do not deceive you! The Oi! legends Iron Cross have returned to kick 2012 right up the arse in a shiny new pair of boots with this 5- track project entitled "Est 1980".
Opener "Strike First" retains all of the sucker- punch brutality that made Iron Cross the icons they are today, but boasts a sleeker production and an infectious melody. The overall result is a polished, fresh take on Oi! music but without any of the compromise that usually follows such a transformation.
"Drunken Bull" is similarly impressive but a little more doom- laden and sardonic, bringing to mind Sheer Terror circa "Love Songs For The Unloved".
The unambiguous"Die Yuppie Scum" is probably the best example of confirmation of an idea that was growing in my mind throughout the two previous tracks but only comes to full fruition here. The idea being that this record carries rich overtones that sound a lot like Naked Raygun's "Understand?" album, which brings a brave new maturity to this outfit whilst offering a concise articulation of the resentment most of the Punk Rock community no doubt feel towards these money- motivated types.
"Wasted In DC" offers a more classic Rock 'n' Roll piece that is essentially a love ballad dedicated to alcohol. In short, a winning formula. Iron Cross close the album with a re- hash of "Crucified" which, were this any other artist, would feel lazy and akin to the repetition of a catch phrase in comedy. As it's Iron Cross, it of course sounds as defiant and relevant to the life of Skinheads as it did back in the day. This is how 2012 should sound.
Iron Cross are indeed back, and not a moment too soon.