D.O.A.

What the fuck happened to D.O.A.? Who cares as long as they don’t break what’s not only been fixed but also supercharged to incredible proportions? Celebrating 30 years of punk rock prominence with what is undoubtedly their strongest album since Something Better Change and Hardcore ’81 — yes, that’s saying a lot — 12th album Northern Avenger is stunning. Thick and upbeat, vicious, raucous and intelligent, these 15 tracks bound out of the speakers and ravage with dominance and power. While it seems impossible that Bob Rock (Metallica, Mötley Crüe) could have a hand in creating what is one of hardcore punk’s most vital efforts in the last half-decade, get ready to forgive his past injustices. Rock’s production skills lend themselves perfectly to D.O.A. and actually pull something out of them that has been sorely lacking for many years. If sitting through all of those cash-grabbing re-releases was necessary to realize something as supreme as Northern Avenger, it was entirely worthwhile.