Stressbomb
New London, Connecticut, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
“Slammer” is melodic punk in the Oi vein (see Cocksparrer’s “England Belongs to Me” for details) and a great vintage Anti-Flag feel, but without that band’s annoying lead singer. Like the best punk, I really have no concept of what is lyrically going on, nor does it really matter. The attitude is there, everyone is having a great fucking time, and there’s enough references (Chelsea, Replacements, Test Tube Babies, etc.) to keep nerdy reviewers like me happy.
“Wasted Life” is a cross between Green Day’s bass-and-drum hyper-attack and great revved-up ’70s rock in the vein of Brownsville Station and Foghat. Add to that a healthy dose of alternative formulae and a bit of Blasters bite and you have a great piece of rock and roll.
“Imitate” is a fantastic tune in terms of how it’s put together and how it’s performed. Someone once told me (i.e., Douchebag 35980 I have met in this life) that punk only has three chords so it can’t be difficult to write a classic punk song. This is not true…at all. If someone out there can just whip off a tune that takes hyped up SoCal punk, throw in the Damned for panache, the Dropkick Murphys for assault and wrap it up in a giant Ramones package (eww..he said package) and still sound like themselves, I’d like to see it, because that is EXACTLY what this track is: fucking awesome! - Crossfade Grimoire Zine
Discography
Studio Albums:
Self Medicate (2007) self released
Barren Wasteland (2010) H8 Piece Records
EP's:
Part 1 (2005)
Pay to Play (2006)
Photos
Bio
Upbeat hardcore-punk works best to describe Stressbomb's wall of sound. For fans of 90's era Epitaph Records bands(Rancid, The Offspring, NOFX). The lyrics are influenced by real life stories of tragedy and inspired by Bob Dylan. The music a combination of hardcore, metal, and skatepunk going for musical chops with a modern recording sound. The live show features incredible amounts of energy and crowd interaction for a punk rock band. Indeed they are humble, fun, and happy to be alive writing honest catchy rock songs. They are part of a long line of independent bands from the NLC.(New London County) They formed in early 2005 by singer/guitarist Chris Jones(after the breakup of Under Investigation) and drummer Adam Allard the songwriting duo began work on 2 early demos and what would eventually become their first record “Self Medicate” released in 2006. The record was produced by Michale Graves(The Misfits) and engineered by Quincy(Murphys Law). The record was complete in 5 days at Octopod Studios in Hacketstown NJ. With bassist Coy Graf, the three piece hit the ground running, playing the club circuit up and down the east coast(at one point doing 4 shows in one day) and completing their first US tour in April 2006 with half the dates supporting Graves. 2006 also saw the addition of Jon Logan on lead guitar. The record release was a soldout show at the legendary German Club in Mystic CT.
2007 and 2008 the band played select shows opening for major headliners coming through New England and festival spots. Brandon Boyle was added on permanent bass. The secord record, “Barren Wasteland” was recorded in two studios. Cyclone Studios in Brooklyn NYC, by legendary hardcore producer Don Fury(Gorilla Biscuits, Civ, Quicksand, Sick of It All) and at Echo Room Productions in Oxford Mass produced and mastered by Ian Van Opinej (Last Lights, The Breathing Process). It was released Feb 2010 by Austin, Texas’s hardcore/oi label H8 Piece Records(which had previously worked with other CT bands on the “Till they All they Come Home” compilation and also released a vinyl for CT streetpunk band Copyright Chaos).
The record was a dramatic change from “Self Medicate” for a more aggressive thrash-punk sound. “Barren Wasteland” took the band’s sound down a politically darker and lyrically more pessimistic road while maintaining the same anthemic choruses, thrashy guitars, and decidely non-punk instrumental breakdowns from the first record. In late 2009 and 2010 Stressbomb toured several times bringing their music to basements, halls, and clubs across America. They are very proud to call the New London music scene their home.
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