Casualties

Old-style UK hardcore with a NYC twist is what the Casualties are all about. They live up to the album's title, being decked out in leather, studs and foot-long hair spikes. Musically, they nod their pointy-heads in the direction of GBH, Discharge, the Varukers and the Exploited, among others. The 13 songs cover familiar punk rock territory with a sense of humour. They thumb their noses at those who use punk as a rulebook in "Punk Rock," "So straight edge is the way, I go out and drink all day. Tell me to shut up and drink, I'll stay sober and eat my beans." This may be short on originality but it makes up for it in "boots to the head" attitude.