If I had not known better than I could have sworn Italy’s thrash-punxsters xKatexMoshx were the one and only Charles Bronson back for another crack at their energetic parade of ass kicking imbued Powerviolence. In an age where crippling hostility and aggression have become both the lyrical and musical status quo amongst the extremities of punk, Kate Mosh delve back into the original charm of Charles Bronson , Spazz and Scholastic Deth by making their Powerviolence unconditionally fun and accessible spicing it up with a nice visual and lyrical tongue in cheek.
Essentially it’s hard hitting hardcore on Prozac, it retains the tempo, brevity and oomph that differentiates Powerviolence from its hardcore cousins, but channels it in such a lively manner that listening to it almost feels like a live experience, delegating to the listener an unquenchable thirst for moshing and other sorts of tomfoolery one can expect from the moshpit.
The band members themselves are veterans amongst the local hardcore scene, a knowhow and professionalism that is exceptionally evident in this newer project of theirs, bringing quality traits such as tightness, engaging song writing skills and catchy tunes to the table and perhaps more evidently their compelling love for hardcore music and attitude; a bastion of solidarity the band never fail to meet.
To stress the point again, this really is an entertaining release, a quirkiness that is evident on all levels of presentation. Evidenced by the dynamic between the jumps of adrenaline through its riotous outbursts and the more casual rolling in the mucky punk playing fields, greatly flavoured by the short attention span of the exceptionally energetic guitar work which jumps from one curveball riff to another as if on a trial run on a hopscotch course, and lastly the deftness of drum work which is drawn a bit further back from the guitar and vocal parade whilst still showcasing a nimble dexterity and adeptness that allows it to jolt playfully as the tempo changes.
There is a flagrant unpredictability in the structure which is a crucial component to their success, even when the unpredictability wears off after numerous listens the charm doesn’t wear off, instead being supplanted by an admiration to their vibrant play style; an adaptive trait few bands manage to pull off. Vocals are presented as your typical shouty hardcore whose level of annunciation synchs up with the ever alternating tempo of the release, a quick peruse over the lyrical content only helps in reinforcing the joyous vibe of the release, despite being socially critical its penned with a distinct style that plays a lot on irony, insincerity and sarcasm.
The overall presentation is flawless in my books, the only niggling concern as a reviewer is putting the release into perspective, had the review been written by a general hardcore fan I am sure the review would carry words like aggressive and boisterous to describe their sound, because in all fairness compared to stereotypical hardcore this release certainly has a greater level of tensile furor to it. However for a man such as myself whose love of PV weighs into more bitter territory such as that of Dropdead and Weekend Nachos, it doesn’t take a degree in musical composition to realise that this release shies away from such hostilities, instead leaning to more enthusiastic elations to define themselves.
Regardless of which perspective one chooses to assess and describe xKatexMoshx the conclusions will be the same: being that the band are in tip top condition and deliver a highly memorable and enjoyable rollercoaster of punk vitality, and once again serving as a friendly reminder that stellar PV goes beyond a North American affair.
