TOXIC NARCOTIC:
Beer in the Shower: 7"
An interesting release to put out on picture disc. Toxic Narcotic is a band that has the patch punk kids sew patches of their band on their sweatshirts, pants, shorts, jackets and backpacks. An interesting fashion statement in its own right since I don’t really like it. But that’s the grumpy old fat guy talking. Well, the thrash punk band with a grindcore sound at times puts out an instrumental EP that is Irish in flavor. At first, hearing the bagpipes felt like a cheap sell to capture some of the audience of Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphys. Like another wave of ska punk or pop punk. But listening to this a couple of times, I grew to appreciate it more. I like that the band did not clean up the production and continued to play with a heavy edge. The bagpipe became the singer or the lead guitarist. It defined itself as an alternative and an angrier expression of an Irish pub band. If these two songs are mixed into their normal live set, it would set them apart by showing that they are not one dimensional as a band. I raise my glass. –Donofthedead (Rodent Popsicle)