Kosher - "Self Control"
BYO Records
Once again, Warrensburg’s own Kosher has put out an excellent punk rock
album.
This release, their first full-length since The CD, takes a mixture of new
songs and re-records some old favorites to make an excellent album.
Self Control starts off with
the excellent "Holiday," whose scratching on the guitar strings intro
makes for a head-bobbing bit of excitement. "Hypocrite Catastrophe" is
my personal favorite song on the album, a spit in the face of every
two-bit liar to ever cross your path.
"Top of the World" is unrelated to the Danger Bob tune of the same
name, and may in fact be its complete and utter antithesis. Whereas the
Danger Bob track was a very upbeat, happy, optimistic tune, Kosher’s
song is much more dark and foreboding, dealing with loss and pills.
On this release, Kosher have cranked up the recording ten times from
their Death To Drama EP, and
the re-recording of four of their older songs helps them out immensely.
Remi and Trent’s vocals come through much more clearly, and the bass
and drums no longer threaten to blow out your speakers.
Actually, considering how incredibly good Self Control is, you may want to
crank it loud enough to blow out the speakers. The lyrics are far more
introspective and thoughtful than your run-of-the-mill Blink 182
pop-punk, and the anger and sheer rock force elevate above most punk
releases. It should be seeing a reissue on BYO Records later this year,
and the group should do very well when the rest of the country gets a
better listen to one of the area’s most overlooked bands.