Review: JD Garrahy
Punks not dead, were just resting up at home, waiting for a decent album to come out, so we can show all you young fucks how its done. Well, dust off your best Chucks, dig out your favourite Wizo or No Use For A Name shirt, pop 2 ibuprofen (yeah, you ya old prick) and prepare yourself for an EP of epic proportions.
Fake News have dropped Time and Place in my lap, and I knew from the opening blast of riffage, that I was in for one hell of a treat.
These guys know how to write both catchy as fuck tunes but they also have the lyrical depth of some of the seasoned greats. I always love seeing new work from these lads, it makes me proud to be a Gold Coaster born n bred, also knowing that 5 guys, from all over shared the same musical taste i had growing up.
Moving On is the perfect opening track, it sets the tone for the whole EP and sells the band’s sound perfectly to new listeners. You KNOW if this came on in your skate playlist while sitting at home, you’d grab your deck and run out the door in a snap.
Now, you follow an opener like Moving On with a track like No Weakness, you just know these guys are here to show you they mean business and they have put their everything into these tracks. This song forces you to shove a middle finger in the air, showing that you won’t be defeated.
Radio Is the track that is going to get every fucker in the dive bar creating the ultimate 90s punk mosh pit. It’s going to be sweaty, it’s going to be hot and you’re not going to know the person next to you, but for the next 2 minutes, you’ll exchange sweat and scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs. Tim is going to be so proud.
Not Giving Up. Wow. This song came along at the right point in my life and it gives me a great sense that I’m doing the right things in the short time I have on this rock. As the title suggests, the Fake News punks are NOT giving up. And that makes us damn happy.
Rewind is the ideal way to finish the original tracks and feels like an album closer. Not ‘in your face’ punk, but still with the same attitude that every FN song seems to hold perfectly in its grasp. Every single person in this band has achieved something truly fantastic. They have all brought the right amount of energy, talent and positivity to the punk genre and proven that the Aussie locals stack up pretty fucking close to their American counter parts.
Now, what punk album is complete without a cover song? Even EP’s deserve a bit of fun. In this case we have the iconic 1965 Barry McGuire classic ‘Eve Of Destruction’, covered in recent years by old Gleeso and his band of Screaming Jets. To be honest, and I may be biased here, but I prefer the punk style on this one. Gives the lyrics the emotion they really need for its message. Well done lads, i reckon you’ve done this song justice.
While EP’s are just a small dose of any band, the Fake News boys have done damn fine work here that will surely show not only the local scene, but the worldwide stage as well. Way to go making an EP with a full album feel, fellas. It’s been way too long since i’ve been truly excited for us aging punk kids.
Release date – May 29th
