Issue 500

Off With Their Heads In Desolation Epitaph Records It is a great thing that Off With Their Heads have been picked up by Epitaph Records because they deserve to be heard by the masses. On their new record 'In Desolation', the band offer up the sound that has made tons of fans fall in love with their gruff, melodic and catchy punk rock all sung/screamed by a guy who sounds like he has gargled gravel and whiskey and who could quite possibly be the damaged bastard son of Bukowski and Morrissey. Straight up songs about life's little misadventures brought on by stress, drugs, booze, the road, love and death all add to a full throttle 34 minute experience that will have you reaching for another beer and the repeat button. Whilst offering up depressing fare the tunes are surprisingly uplifting and Ryan Young, the brainchild of the band, offers up poetic lyricisms whilst thrashing uncontrollably to some of the best tunes on offer in this genre at the moment. Fans who have been let down by recent offerings by Against Me! or who may be enticed by the idea of Hot Water Music or Dillinger Four with some gloomier sounds will find much to enjoy on In Desolation. From gut-wrenching opener Drive to the sobering tale of drug overdose on Try To Breathe and the scathing Their Own Medicine mixed in with the quintessential ballad it truly is a fist pumping, heart warming and aggressive record which will fit in nicely with its label mates even if its nothing new it sure is damn infectious. From a fans perspective 'In Desolation' could be seen as a renaissance for Epitaph. Off With Their Heads could and should be the band to truly put 'punk' back into the former punk rock powerhouse. Half way through the year and this band have potentially released a stand out that will blow most other records away for 2010, do yourself a favour and whether you buy, download, steal or find it in a dumpster get your hands on In Desolation, you'll grow to love Off With Their Heads and all the emotional baggage that comes with them! Luke Collins