Justin Angel is my friend and he asked me to do this review.
This detail is only important so I can fully explain that I would never have willfully volunteered myself to review an album by The Casualties or any band who came out of the phony punk glam machine of Punk Core Records. The Casualties have somehow been able to impose their spiky haired bobo faux Motley Crue garbage on over 20 years worth of easily impressed teenagers. Seriously, the first song on the record sounds like something off of “Too Fast For Love” with a skate metal drumbeat and crummier guitars and vocals. I hate Motley Crue, but I’d gladly take the Crue over the Casualties. Everything about this record is sub par- from the lyrics to the music to the energy to….man, just everything. I haven’t heard anything so devoid of heart and soul while flying the punk banner as this piece of hackneyed junk, at least not since the 90s. I believe these guys about as much as the “system” they so vaguely mention and rail against in a totally insincere and nonplussed way. Something says these guys are closet Republicans.
I want to thank the Casualties’ record label for sending a digital copy with NO SONG TITLES. This will make my reviewing of the record even more aggravating. I’m sure they could have mailed a physical copy if they wanted to, though it wouldn’t have helped much. But what’s going to keep my glass from leaving a ring on the table now?
I can’t help but get the feeling that The Casualties don’t really stand up for anything without several bottles of Aqua Net or Consort Hair Spray. I’ve counted 6 times in 7 songs so far that “1,2,…1,2,3,4!” has been counted. That’s fine if you’re Dee Dee Ramone, otherwise not so much. 5 out of 7 of those songs start with guitar in one speaker a drum fill and then some single note doodly guitar crap. Way to switch things up, guys.
Man, I can’t do this anymore…it’s killing me. Headphones off. 8 songs is the threshold of pain.
Seriously, There is nothing redeemable or credible about the Casualties. There’s nothing original or interesting about them either. Never has been. Never will be. They are a band of carefully dressed, gimmicky, trite and overused stereotypes of punk and punk culture. EVERYTHING I consider to be an accidentally self deprecating parody of punk exists entirely within this one band. They lack so much and a totally uninformed public keeps licking it up. This isn’t rebellious, this isn’t dangerous, this isn’t inspiring. The Casualties have never been capable of that. For 23 years, they have failed to be good. With “Resistance” I can honestly say they fail to be even on the low end of mediocre. 23 years. This is now a bunch of 40 year old hacks still “lacing up the boots” “doing it for the kids” and “talking for the streets”. It’s all just a gimmick now, and it’s tired. REALLY tired. I don’t want to see Loverboy play the state fair and I don’t want to hear the Casualties talk about warriors, hating religion, or “the streets”, either.
Please, just forget this record happened. Forget this review happened. Just go buy Black Flag’s “Damaged” album and listen to the best punk band to ever come out of California. Those guys told the stories. Those guys lived it as they sang it. Those guys were the real deal. They are also the opposite of the Casualties. Casualties are the fallen. Black Flag saw fit to “Rise Above”. See here’s one of the finer points of punk rock that has slipped into obscurity over the years, to those who are just joining us- the really young ones- I’m gonna let you in on a secret. Punk Rock’s “I don’t care” attitude is a sham. Truth is, most punks and most punk bands DO care, it’s just a matter of what they care about. The ones who really “don’t care” also don’t get it and don’t amount to a whole lot or get to live many of their dreams. The Casualties get to live their dream, which for all appearances is paid for entirely with licensing fees collected from merchandise sold at Hot Topic stores world wide and at the tent near the 2nd stage at the Van’s Warped Tour.
I beg you. Don’t waste your time on this dreck.
Rating: 1.5/10 tops.
About Billy Metts – He “kinda” works here, he’s sorta like Creed in the office- we’re not sure exactly what he does. He used to sneak listens to the Misfits “Walk Among Us” and Slayer “Hell Awaits” while pretending to listen to the classical records in his Uncle’s collection as a young kid and hasn’t been the same since. At least he’s friendly.
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