You can tell me to shut the fuck up about Panthro UK United 13 at any time, but the fact is that I’ve put Sound of a Gun on consistently since 1998. Maybe I should just get over it. But Alex’s voice and guitar are distinctive as is Shane’s drumming, and when I pop in House on Fire (whose debut EP ruled) or Black Cougar Shock Unit, I keep reflecting back to PUKU 13 and comparing and contrasting. And I’ve come to this conclusion: I don’t like hard rock noodling in my punk. When Black Cougar Shock Unit blast from the gates, stomp holes in drywall, put the cat in the oven, and piss in the neighbors’ ears while doing hand-clapping push ups on the hoods of their victims’ SUVs, I like them. When they start playing originals that remind me—rightly or wrongly—of “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang,” I’m less than enthralled. I just don’t like the wanking. I like it when they hit the afterburners. So, it’s a 50/50 proposition.
–todd (Newest Industry)