PSYCHOPUNCH shows a tremendous talent in songwriting, giving the audience hit after hit after hit, like a metalhead drinks his beer. But its main strength lies in its drummer Jocke, hitting maniac, putting his entire soul in his hits, hurting his drums so well you can’t help but follow the rhythm. His association with bass player Lindell gives “Smakk Valley” a feeling of emergency, as if the whole thing was recorded in a crack house in the 80s. No note is out of place, nothing is missing there. Seriously, “Dead By Dawn”… Something as snarly, which gives you the envy to destroy everything around you, should be banned forever.
JM and Joey, are the perfect pupils of Johnny Ramone and give our cold ears some riffs that turn them on every single time you hear those in order to get us to move our asses in rhythm and in unison. Nothing else to say; because altogether: it’s just perfect. “Smakk Valley Train” and its introduction, the main riff from “Emelie”, “Back Of My Car”, the duet isn’t performing the most original stuff you’ve ever heard but it feels so honest and is played so well that you can’t help but love it and don’t give a shit after 5 minutes. The few solos are simple but never feel weird and gives the listener a few moments to breathe since a whole album spent jumiing everywhere is pretty exhausting.
Finally, JM’s singing, which never weakens and is more than recognizable, cherry on the already perfect cake we are listening to without complaining (we even ask for seconds, and love it all the same) is a subtle mix of agressivity and sexuality, a great breather in a time where all singers must sound the same. This voice is a call to freedom and life. “Everybody wants an answer” and all is said. Few singers gave me goosebumps like him especially in punk rock.
45 minutes later, and “You’re Totally Mistaken”, tribute to MOTORHEAD, and you realise how fast time went by, you’re screaming “I’m Alive !!!” together with the band. You must admit you were expecting nothing out of this day, and that you took a mjor slap in the face, that a band you knew nothing about an hour ago just rushed into your life. You realise you love PSYCHOPUNCH, and that “Smakk Valley” is a fucking amazing bomb of rock and roll that you cannot say anything bad about, except that it ends at some point.
Still a shitty weather, still alone, still dressed in rags, still nothing to do or to watch. But surprisingly I no longer mind at all. The record just ended and if you’ll excuse me I’m gonna listen to it one more time. Fuck yeah it’s a beautiful day. In the back of my car…
