Unfortunately, "Once a punk band, always a punk band" is rarely a truism in today’s world. Fortunately, there are still some bands that don't take a turn for the worse and attempt ludicrous feats like dramatically changing "their sound." What was once a fave Maximum Rock N' Roll band has become more of a Columbus, Ohio punk rock institution, as the New Bomb Turks are still around a decade later, chugging out some more of their patented, high octane punk-rawk. From what I can make of it, the Turks’ only modification has been the recent acquisition of new drummer, Sam Brown, who looks just as seedy and suspicious as the other members!
Nightmare Scenario definitely has its roots in the band’s previous Epitaph release, At Rope's End, as the same compressed yet fine-tuned punk aroma simmers from multiple sources. A quick New Bomb Turks menu checklist would include a hefty dose of sarcasm, aggressive, driving tunes, some sneers, a few proverbial, musically-designed middle fingers and tasty lyrics that actually have some genuine substance to them. The Turks' aging hasn't ruined the meal either, as all items are glaringly available and ready for your consumption!
"Too Much" flaps you onto the griddle and fries you up nice and crispy in less than a minute, as a steady, fast-paced beat singes everything in sight without overcooking you with speed-overkill. If it's beats per minute that you're looking for, "Continental Cats" will swiftly outpace the fastest techno-crap platter you can find, as it relentlessly pounds out the rhythm at a hasty tempo. Our quartet kindly lets you catch a few breathers, as "Your Beaten Heart" and "Killer's Kiss " slow down just enough to let you digest what you've already been forced to vociferously inhale. Variety abounds, but there's enough cohesion here to illustrate that this band has done its time and knows what the masses want and how they want it delivered.
So...if you're tired of biting into those frozen-meal-punk rock deals -- you know, the ol' "one for $15.98" routine -- you can always count on the fresh hooks and wit-encrusted filets of an old favorite. It's Ohio punk rock and we're not joking when we say the chef (er...writer) unconditionally recommends this house specialty.
