Caste Bravo – ‘Foreign Object Free’.

Castle Bravo – Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

When you listen to Perth Punk-Rock band Castle Bravo you hear a band that has done their sonic homework and a band that has paid attention to the last twenty or so years of Punk music.

The band take cues from the likes of Rise Against, Propagandhi and The Bronx but even citing those three accomplished and hugely influential bands doesn’t really do the sound of Castle Bravo justice.

Over this latest record and also including the band’s eponymous release from 2012, Castle Bravo do Punk music a service through the jagged, melodic, driven, abrasive and precise world of its contemporary form, drawing from Punk, Hardcore and even a slither of Post-Hardcore en-route.

‘Someday, Maybe’ sounds like a harder Banner Pilot but also carries a jangly almost Folk guitar tone in the intro reminiscent of Perth contemporaries Hope Street who you can find – Here.

If the Melodic Hardcore orientated early 2000’s had taken place before Hot Water Music became the staple they are, then in many ways tracks such as ‘Someday, Maybe’ and the following ‘Hide’ would have been common place in the Floridian’s repertoire.

If the slight Folk and Post-Hardcore stylistics of Hot Water Music’s early and latter career were a notable comparison prior then with ‘A Way Out’ the up-tempo and driven rhythm section sits somewhere near a mid-career Rise Against with ‘Generation Lost’ coming to mind in a song that wishes for a wrecking ball to break through the metaphorical wall. A wrecking ball that thankfully has nothing to do with Miley Cyrus in the slightest, so relax.

‘Hey You’ is classic Skate Punk filtered through an Alexisonfire lens musically while lyrically its heavy politicisms are far from preachy but achieve their desired affect. ‘Stonewalled’ is your fast 90’s melodic Punk-song that with its pace prepares you for almost unexpected Hardcore Punk of ‘Run For The Hills’ that sounds akin to a union of British Street Punk and early 80’s US Hardcore.

‘Tales From The State’ is sonically tight but does break away from the direction the album was heading. That said, the song itself is compositionally strong and is further proof of the conviction infused into the lyrics. I recommend you have the bandcamp page in front of you for this one. Orwell’s 1984 comes to mind.

‘Stepdadin’ is more of the raspy upbeat Punk the band is known for and it hangs off the heart-strings the band are also known to show in a track that you can’t help smile at.

I must admit, the opening notes of the title track of this release left some ambiguity. Castle Bravo at this stage on the album have shown their musical proficiency and versatility but as with any Punk album, if you’re going to slow things down you best do it right. Luckily, with the all important eponymous track Castle Bravo do just that.

The opening Ska/Dub of the penultimate ‘No Cure For Patents’ is quite unexpected and leaves you somewhat confused before Castle Bravo burst into what they know for a fast, jagged and melodic track that is bitter in its attack on the order of things. After all, why does survival matter when the numbers have an undeniable need to add up?

‘Rescue is not authorised, lifeboat in the crosshairs. Victims far across the sea will not be treated for free. Defending these property rights – that is paramount. Access will be denied, unless they pay the price. They’d rather turn their backs, so they won’t see them die.’

‘Tell Me Of Your Experience’ closes an album that I have struggled not to write volumes on. So, with that said, I will leave it there.

Find the band below:

• For updates visit the band on Facebook.
• The bands music to date can be found on bandcamp, iTunes and Spotify.

#StayFresh