After a spell of inactivity, Deck Cheese is back with a bang - The Living End's new record should be the biggest seller the label has dealt with, but something tells me this record will also do well in punk circles. Moving away from the label's penchant for the skate-punk or the ska-influenced, and back towards the more 'traditional' punk sound, Strawberry Blondes have their feet firmly in the Rancid camp, although they remain very English-sounding, which sets them apart from many of the bands who play a similar style of music.
Infact SB manage to marry the aggressive 'fuck you' attitude with some very melodic parts - 'Beat Down babylon' and 'I'm A Punk Rocker And I'm Never Gonna Fall In Love' have genuine singalong choruses despite all of the 'oi oi' chants and overblown guitar solos, taken straight from the Tim Armstrong school of punk rock. So while there's a nod towards bands like Goldblade and The Clash, and the more old-skool influences like Deadline, the fact the band actually sing with their hearts on their sleeves gives this a more modern, and in my eyes enjoyable, slant.
It's not my favourite Deck Cheese release, but it's certainly a very good one and a great way for the label to re-introduce themselves to the world.
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