How long had I been aiting for this album? For years I had to play two 7″s back to back with promise after promise of “the album will be out son!” but to no avail. I think the cruellest punk rock April fools came in 2000 with the immortal line “And in other news: The album is finished”. From excitement to disappointment in one cruel sweeping blow.
A few months ago the album, consisting of 18 tracks, 12 newly recorded tracks and 6 re-recorded tracks that appeared on the crackle and damaged goods 7″s, was finally released.
Was it worth the wait?
In short: Yes. If you’ve ever seen or heard OCP before you know what you are going to get from the album: Tight, melodic Epi-Fat styled punk but with a British edge. A lot of the guitar work will go down well with fans of PROPAGANDHI and perhaps STRUNG OUT, while the vocal harmonies are contagious and had me singing along in no time.
The majority of lyrics on the record are thoughtful nd political, yet without forcing ideals into your face with crass chants of “fuck authority,” like many bands are known to do. Instead OCP’s lyrics seem to cry out a certain frustration with society in a way that I can only describe as mature. The track “Killian is Lying” contains a great ending, summing up a general apathetic attitude found in society towards problems “Just walk away, listen, obey. Swallow your pride ’till it goes away”. It has to be one of the standout tracks on the record for me.
I really like the fact that descriptions of the songs appear in the sleeve notes. The opening track “End of The World TV Show” has a great description talking about Grimsby, which if you’d ever lived in the area, would have you nodding in agreeance.
There was a few seconds on this album that I thought I was listening to CONSUMED (RIP). Listening to the intro of “Pink Paint” reminded me a little bit of Consumed‘s “Wake up With a Smile” but that’s the only relationship between OCP and Consumed, honest! That track leads us onto another familiar intro riff, and the obligatory (but often deemed passé) cover. No, it’s not a NOFX cover, but it does borrow the riff from Linoleum and blend it with Trine Rein’s TORN (famously bought into the charts by Natalie Imbruglia). Classic.
Overall, this album is a top class effort,which makes me wonder why people buy sound-a-like Fat Wreck CD’s from HMV for fifteen quid when they could order this from Crackle! for seven! Oh, and the fact that it was done 100% DIY is a lesson to many bands that they don’t need to rely on others to create a decent record.
Now, will be waiting five years for the next album?
Phil