Bogans and The ‘Uno Mas!’ EP.
Bogans – Wrexham, Wales, United Kingdom.
The term Bogan is actually one used for the Australian equivalent of a British Chav or an American hick but that’s just a unrelated fact designed to break the worded ice of this review and I think it went quite well. Bogans in this case however are a five-piece Punk band from Wrexham.
[redacted] is anthemic from its opening notes. The chord progression and the guitar tone of the intro are so telling of a well written and thought out track it hurts. Hurts but you certainly enjoy it. The band blend emotive and anthemic melodic 90’s Pop-Punk and Punk-Rock with something akin to vintage Rancid and it works.
‘Grandad’ is all of the above but amplified. The guitar tone is melodic and driven and contrasts really very well with the grit and chugging rhythm section. The vocals contrast so much that they aren’t really suited for this vein of melodic Punk however. Now I say that, but without the slower Street Punk grit of these vocal chords the intelligent witty lyrics wouldn’t hit home as cleverly and neither would the music carry such an anthemic tone.
‘To What End’ may well be musically upbeat with its soaring guitar melodies but its punch is not to be questioned. Bogans have written their anthem of Punk disaffection, disgust and desensitisation. After all, what is the point?
The band’s roots in melodic Skate Punk are clear but by the time of the eerie ‘Dumbskulls’, Poison Idea-esque Hardcore is on the table. I have to applaud the melodic guitar leads again here as there implementation is perfectly timed with a strong solo not far behind.
‘U.S Of Murdoch’ is chilling with the opening line and doesn’t fall back. Bogans’ distinct vocals do nothing but help their point transcend from music to thought and again with this track, you can’t fault their political punch.
It is safe to say that this is a very frustrated EP and as much as it has been released so we could all relate, much of its strength comes in its context within our time and from five beings that really just need to vent.
‘Buckin’ Bronco’ is one more blast of Punk-Rock catharsis. This bonus track to the bandcamp release is fast unrelenting Hardcore Punk from back in the day and the unambiguous strength of such is that I have nothing else to say on it and that also goes for the EP as a whole.
Find the band below:
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