By Chris Rockson

 

Modern Edge Records - MER007

Available NOW Worlwide

In case you missed their last offering, One Man Stand return to the fray with their latest album, self-titled 'One Man Stand'. This is a grown up version of the earlier release 'Casual Culture', which is reviewed elsewhere in this mag. The lads have taken the formula that created that earlier and rougher recording, added some jaw-dropping melody and perfected their instruments....

The album starts off with 'Break Down the Walls', a fast paced punk rocker that is guaranteed to get your toes-a-tapping, and your pogo-a-pogoing...closely followed by the clever '78', harking back to the days when punk was punk..tells the story of young guys discovering the wide world of music and life in general, with some very catchy pieces and even spoken word....yeah! spoken word!! This further backs up how far this band have come in terms of writing - their confidence is evident on every track!

The band dub-step their way through 'Just Like Me', heavy reggae influenced but with some aural assault to break the thread. This is very clever guys!

The playing on this album is a mighty step up and it shows - there are bass lines that Jean Jacques Burnell would be proud of, drumming is tight as you get and the guitars are also well hammered out, but what makes this stand out from the crowd is the overall sound that these three guys make. Reminiscent at times of The Jam, in both melody and vocal range, One Man Stand have an unearthly ability to write some of the most catchy chorus' that I've ever heard, evidenced by the rockers 'Take your Chances' and 'Keep on Running'.

We've been supporters of this outfit for quite sometime now, and to be honest, there are a few bands that can live with them in their home town. They've played tours of Japan, where they went down a storm, some shows to sell-out crowds, yet at home, right in their own back-yard, seem to be overlooked by criminal proportions!

I don't wanna ramble on about the in's and out's of punk rock music and the absolutely shocking state that it is in right now, but that light at the end of the tunnel is staring you right in the face....One Man Stand, do yourself a favour!

 

Chris

Soundcheck Rating

Check out One Man Stand  RIGHT HERE