Tag: Cleveland

Violet Ray – This Is Skate Rock

Stripped down to its most basic core, reviewing something is simply answering the question, “What is this?”. Violet Ray answered this for me on the front cover.

Now, “skate rock” can mean two pretty drastically different things. Historically speaking, I attribute the term to bands like JFA, Agent Orange, or Aggression. Early 80s hardcore that either has some surf guitars sprinkled in there, or someone skateboarding on the front cover, or both. The term was also co-opted in the 90s to describe more melodic stuff like No Use For A Name, Strung Out, Lagwagon, etc. While I have an affection for both definitions, I think the latter grouping would be more accurately described as “snowboard rock”.

Violet Ray are not snowboard rock. Every song sounds like the aforementioned 80s influences, with maybe some Night Birds sprinkled in there (who themselves draw from the same sources). It’s all pretty good. The songs are about skateboarding, people who skateboard, and characters from skateboarding films. It’s extremely derivative, but the source material is sick, so whatever. 

Even their logo kinda looks like the Battalion of Saints. If I have a complaint, the cover art could use some sprucing up. It looks like the opening credits to a Nickelodeon show, but not a cool one like “Doug”. If you’re going full-on skate rock, put a slightly off-kilter photo of shirtless dude skating a pool on the front, matted onto a repeating wallpaper pattern of the band logo in the background. Otherwise, keep up the good work. 

-Zach Akenson

Tracks:
1. Blender Knows 02:52
2. Phillips 66 02:23
3. Master of Disaster 02:51
4. Don’t Jump Off 02:46
5. Street Survival 02:44
6. Brookpark Rd. 02:03
7. All Hail Cardiel 03:00
8. Head Bongo 02:58
9. Skate or Die 03:00
10. Animal Chin 03:26
11. Dogtown 03:41
12. Poor Devils (2025) 03:46

Urgent Care – Fast Medicine

Are you in need of a new primary rock and roll provider? Look no further than Cleveland’s own Urgent Care. They are the nation’s preeminent Healthcore band, and are out to get you the help you need. 

Coming in at the tail end of 2023, “Fast Medicine” is a 14 track back alley lobotomy of snarling, snotty, punk rock and roll. The songs are firmly rooted in rock, with a lot of fuzz and growl. Lyrically things are tongue depressor in cheek, with songs about various medical issues and minor ailments. Songs of Frostbite and Allergens abound. 

All in all, it’s a fun release and reminiscent of bands such as Boris the Sprinkler and  Quincy Punx. There’s some DK influence and some more obvious Ramones-core lineage as well. 

So trip and fall your way over to Urgent Care’s Bandcamp page, and get patched up with some Punk Rock. If you’re lucky, your insurance will pick up the tab. 

Cheers!
Jerry Actually

RAM ONES – Real Tree Camo

This is the best cover art I’ve seen in some time.

Currently rocking to the crushing rhythms of Real Tree Camo, the new album by Cleveland hardcore quartet, RAM ONES. (The band name is comedy gold, btw.)

This brief bit of skullcrushamania brings about 10 tracks of what I would consider 90s style Hardcore. Reminiscent of early Jughead’s Revenge and mid-career M.O.D.

The guitar work vacillates between rapid and plodding with equal verve. Rhythm is rock solid, and the vocals, though gritty, are still intelligible. The tracks are brief. In essence, it checks all the boxes.

In the words of Billy Milano, Short, but sweet!

Check ‘em out on their Bandcamp page.

Cheers!

-Jerry Actually