Genre: Hardcore
Origin: USA
Released: 2007
Website: Akimbo
Label: Alternative Tentacles Records
Uploaded: 28.03.07

At first I was both suprised and excited about getting a promo from Alternative Tentacles, owned by the pretty much legendary Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys. But I got a dose of scepticism washed over me when I read that it’s some kind of metalcore, ‘cause in most cases that’s just not my cup of tea. This is apparently a re-release of Akimbo’s 2001 debut, and they’ve released three albums after it. I’ve never heard of the band before, though.
It’s some form of brutalized old school hardcore with both thrash metal as well as rock n roll added to the mix. The classic HC essences of ‘stop and go’ is there, and lots of tempo variations keeps it from becoming predictable; be it slow, churning or frenzied blasting. But I just don’t find it very interesting. It’s fairly technical and what not, but seriously lacking impact. I’m not really sure what the promo sheet is going on about either, “sounds like it got a gallon and a half of heavy lard smeared all over it”. To me the production’s thin and annoying! And it’s even been re-mastered for the release. It also says that it’s brand new artwork by “acclaimed designer Damm”, but that’s some lame front cover, and the back is just a live picture of a band. There’s no booklet so there are no lyrics, which is just another downer. The CD does however contain a bonus track, not on the original release; the Screamers cover Vertigo.
As I said it’s not my cup of tea and it leaves me unsatisfied and unimpressed.

Tracklist:
01. Paul Reuben's theatre
02. Lick the knife
03. When I am king I will spit on the corpse of Ray Manzarek
04. Sense of smell
05. Life in the noose
06. Steal your first born
07. The sound is dead
08. Confessions of a small scale martyr
09. Fuck Everett, fuck Tacoma
10. I wish the dead could come back to life so I could kill you again
11. Pink bathwater
12. Vertigo