Brixton Robbers

Every dog has its day. Wait long enough and that moment will eventually see a revival. It would seem as if ska-influenced hardcore punk is about to be that mutt, thanks not only to the recent resurgence of interest in acts such as Suicide Machines, but the work put into Montreal-based Brixton Robbers' latest 13-track onslaught, Rocks and Cranes. A veritable recycling bin full of scene heroes revitalized into something fresh and viable, each track manages to cram just about every genre necessity into its minute-and-a-half/two-minute tops runtime. With a viciously guttural vocal delivery reminiscent of Dropkick Murphys before they became a bloated folk band, snide attitude courtesy of hours spent listening to Choking Victim and Leftover Crack, and a clear understanding of exactly where Rancid's been coming from since ...And Out Come The Wolves, these guys mean what they say and refuse to do it half-assed. Loud, angry and fearless, Rocks and Cranes certainly makes a strong case for the return of this often-misunderstood, but rarely-missed, boil on the acne-ridden face of punk.