It's a fact that it's all downhill for a band after the release of their third album.
The Bouncing Souls
should have ended it while at the highlight of their first
Epitaph
release; instead, the masses were fed the filler album
Hopeless Romantic
.
Screeching Weasel
should have stayed broken up after
How to Make Enemies and Irritate People
, but
Ben Weasel
needed to make his house payments.
Avail
, however, manage to prove this theory wrong with their fifth album
One Wrench
.
There have been many of changes for
since their previous album
Over the James
; a label and rhythm section change to be exact. But the energy has been revamped as this veteran five piece continue their blaze of explosive, sing-along punk. Particularly on tracks like
"Fast One,"
"Taken,"
"n30,"
and
"Heron,"
the tight, pounding riffage and in-your-face vocals remain as
proves that they still have it after all these years. If only other bands could learn not to be cynical and uncaring in their old age. ~ Mike DaRonco