Bullshit Detectör are a band from San Antonio, Texas. This LP is made up of songs previously released on the No Joy EP and the splits with Liberty & Justice and Empire Down. On top of that, the band added two extra tracks, one of them being a cover of The Professionals. The whole thing has been remastered and released by Contra Records in Europe and 31Records in the US. Musically, we’re talking about a mix of Oi!, punk, coldwave, and maybe even synth pop. A wild combination? Absolutely. But this record isn’t aimed at people who only want songs shouting “skinhead Oi! Oi! Oi!” while spilling beer over themselves in the front row. Sure, we all need that from time to time, but this collection offers a different kind of experience.
If I go through the tracks one by one and try to describe the stylistic twists and turns on this collection, we start with You Made Us — a darker Oi! punk track with chant-style vocals that feel like football terrace choruses. A driving opener with a partially ambient atmosphere that kicks the record off in strong fashion. I’m The Hammer continues in a similar vein, but with melodic ideas that lean more toward alternative music influences. The guitars cut through the darkness while the gang vocals sound almost like monks chanting somewhere underground. Joy Is Not The Condition Of This World sticks to the same foundation, but just when you think the song is heading into straightforward territory, another unexpected melody or arrangement shift appears. Shinedown flirts with experimental electronic sounds and is probably my favorite track on side A. The pop influence fully comes to the surface on Cool Arrows, which easily stands out as one of the highlights of the entire record.
Once you flip the record over and Hard Luck Boys starts playing, you almost want to check whether you accidentally put on a different LP. Here we get a full-on 1980s-style synth pop track, bringing a complete change of mood. Rat Tail draws heavily from the aesthetics of ’80s music, but injects it with energy and an urgent vocal delivery that keeps the punk spirit alive. Another standout is Number, which builds on a similar approach as the previous track. It leans even further into pop arrangements and prominent guitar leads, while still maintaining a rougher and rawer edge underneath. The collection closes with the The Professionals cover.
This record will appeal to anyone looking for something beyond genre clichés and predictable formulas. At the same time, there will definitely be plenty of purists who simply won’t be able to get into it. But that’s the fate of projects like this. Personally, I’m genuinely surprised by how entertaining and well-crafted this release turned out to be. A few years ago, I probably would have dismissed it immediately, but that phase is clearly behind me now. There’s also a dark atmosphere running throughout the entire record, and all the stylistic detours feel natural rather than forced. It’s surprising how well these elements actually work together.
TOP TRACKS: Shinedown, Cool Arrows, Rat Tail
