Ugly, snotty, loud, abrasive, and showing no signs of giving this up anytime soon, Chicago's Culo have released their first full length album on Deranged entitled "My Life Sucks and I could Care Less." If you enjoyed their first two E.P.s ("Military Trend" and "Toxic Vision"), you'll certainly be cranking the volume up on "My Life Sucks...." Their capacity to make such a familiar sound interesting and exciting is certainly an achievement and one that sets them apart from many bands claiming to have a fraction of the same intensity. A little less hurried than their past efforts, this record demonstrates that when Culo takes its time as a band to make a full length record, the results are staggering. Imagine Government Warning with a bit more attitude and you get the general idea of what Culo is about. This sound is a primitive reminder of hardcore b.c., a time when metal was nowhere in sight and being punk still exemplified being in contrast to the social norms of the day. The best part about this isn't that its some hipster nod to the past, you can actually tell these kids believe what they're playing. Don't be fooled by what surfaces here, there are other dynamics at work in Culo's sound, particularly the underscored melodic leads and hooks in the album's title track and "Sick Sick Sick" gives a passing nod to and indie, almost pop sense of chord progression. Intricately produced and cleverly executed, to pass this record off as punks disregarding the quality of their product wouldn't only be false, it would be insulting.
8.5 / 10
- Joe