No longer will Compton, Calif., be known for habitual crack epidemics, gang turf warfare and drive-by shootings.
Pour Habit, one of the newest signings to stalwart record label Fat Wreck Chords, are about to become the band in punk rock.
Their record Suiticide shows Pour Habit as being capable of creating raucous punk rock in the vein of Strung Out, Bad Brains and Bad Religion while touching on many different humanist aspects of the world.
Opener “Institution” sets the pace for the record and furiously declares in our post-Bush world “You and I stand, United, suffered too long, desperate for a change!” The album is full of technical, machine-gun drums and Charles Greens’s vocals remind the listener of H.R. from the Bad Brains, only re-invented.
Another standout track includes reggae-tinged “Zion,” which invites the world to “celebrate, we’re going to a better place, with every kind of race.” It’s not as much a song about religion as it is about being content with your fellow man. And then there is the wild party rager, “Bad Luck Drunk,” and the cynical “Resignation,” which is a tune about being shaken down by the powers that be.
I luckily saw Pour Habit in London, England, this past May opening for NOFX and the Flatliners, from Toronto. Despite being a lifelong and diehard NOFX fan, Pour Habit stole the show. Charles Green is hands down the funniest and most entertaining front man I have seen in years, probably only rivaled by Brendan Kelly from the Lawrence Arms. The energy these guys exude is contagious and they will be taking over punk rock.
If you are a fan of fast and melodic punk rock and hardcore à la Bad Brains with a flair for pounding double bass and ripping guitar solos, hit up Pour Habit. Make it a party.