Assaulting with their violent, confrontational street punk, in the vein of the Casualties but pushed by even more vitriol and rage, the Krum Bums are disturbing. The well of anger and energy that fuels latest effort As The Tide Turns is deep, leading one to wonder if a bad case of Tourettes Syndrome has infiltrated the group. This isnt a bad thing, serving to make each track assuredly unforgettable. Blending elements of personal aggression with political opinion, Krum Bums create the perfect balance of information and individual introspection without aggrandising or hitting the point of punk rock propaganda. Sonically, songs such as "Fall, "In Sickness and "Scratching on the Eight Ball blend anthemic choruses with a hyperactive four/four foundation while a throat-tearing vocal attack gives what Spinal Taps Nigel Tufnel would call, "that extra push over the cliff. The resulting atmosphere is one that balances panic with unbridled torment, wrath and flammability. Who would have thought that the otherwise-laidback city of Austin would create something this endearingly toxic to society?
(TKO)Krum Bums
As The Tide Turns
BY Keith CarmanPublished Apr 18, 2007
