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Stepkings - 3 The Hard Way
Stepkings - 3 The Hard Way
Fantastic Plastic - 2002
By Mark Bridgeman
Like the hybrid child of westcoast punk and eastcoast hardcore, STEPKINGS are a 3-piece oozing with catchy hooks and head pounding rhythms. Vocalist/guitarist Fern's melodic delivery is perfectly balanced by bassist Bob McLynn's barking backing vox. The music is charged, tight, and delivered sweetly enough to sink into your ears and have your body pounding with the music. I shit you not!
This isn't metal, but it has enough aggression and a delivery that isn't crippled by hardcore's usual (in my mind) inaccessability. These guys could write great pop songs if they were so inclined. The fact they've chosen to rock is a credit to them, and a bonus for the rest of us.
Although a number of their songs deal with the angst we all face, and a hatred towards the upper classes, STEPKINGS are also story tellers. 'Zeroes And Ones' deals with the loneliness of people seeking love online (and those who take advantage of them), and is touching in that these guys aren't content with spouting the typical punk dork ramblings. They're men with feelings, friends, and they spin a good lyrical tune to boot.
The highlight of the album for me is 'California', with it's hook large enough to land a whale; 'Helicopters', its protaginist crushed by modern media and its bombardment of dread; 'The Dove', a story of a drunk driver in prison for manslaughter; and the closer '12/23/01', an ode to melancholic loneliness.
This is one of the better releases this year, for sure. If you enjoy good punk rock with metal sensibilities - and above all, perfect melodies and hooks - STEPKINGS must be in your collection. 3 The Hard Way deserves to be heard.
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