From the Australian punk scene comes a band that handles things a little differently. Less about high-energy sleaze rock, CIVIC take a more straightforward, honest approach to their sound. With Chrome Dipped (ATO), the band delivers a new album worthy of attention.
Having first exploded with the bombastic New Vietnam EP, CIVIC journeyed through Future Forecast and Taken By Force, gradually finding themselves in more serious territory. With grim expressions, they offered commentary, and their sound became more layered, gradually blurring the lines of their proto-punk roots.
That’s also how Chrome Dipped kicks off. The early tracks are tough and they rock, but this isn’t strictly punk—it’s the kind of music that might resonate with workers unwinding after a shift, still standing straight at the bar.
Then comes “The Hogg,” a raw and fast number. And finally, some full-blown high-energy rock with “Trick Pony,” which starts to fray at the edges. The pedal-to-the-floor tracks “Poison” and “Fragrant Rice” don’t allow themselves the same unraveling.
What remains? A punk album that’s tough to get tired of.
CIVIC – Chrome Dipped: Punk with no tinsel. – RIFL