The latest release from Oi!Tism Records is a recording by Jackknife Johnny from Sacramento, California. This is the band’s debut, featuring nine original tracks. The record was released in two versions: 130 copies on Apple Red vinyl and 132 copies on Ice Blue with Black Splatter. In total, the album contains ten tracks – nine original songs and a cover of „Animal“ by Anti Nowhere League. The band plays with two guitars, resulting in a fuller sound and broader sonic possibilities.
I first noticed the band through their demo, released prior to this record, and since it caught my attention, I went straight for the full album. Musically, it’s a mix of Oi!, punk, and hardcore. Based on the artwork, which visually references NYHC and Warzone, I honestly expected more hardcore than Oi! or punk. After listening, however, I was surprised to find that although hardcore passages do appear, the dominant sound is a rolling Oi!/streetrock/bovver style, which feels more characteristic of the band on this release.
Side A opens with „Dealers Choice,“ a track that clearly shows what you can expect from the band throughout most of the record: a full-on Oi! punk sound, mid-tempo pacing, and strong singalong sections that define their overall output. Without any context, this kind of streetrock/bovver sound would make me guess the band was European, often associated with football culture. Songs like „No Way Out“ (which already features some hardcore-style arrangements in parts of the song) and the slower „Deadly Sins,“ with its emphasis on vocal delivery, follow in the same vein. „Sellout City“ blends Oi!, punk, and hardcore in an almost ideal balance, while „Shadow Days“ is another catchy streetrock burner with strong choruses.
On Side B, „One Of The Few“ stands out in particular, combining the streetrock intensity of football-terrace chants with sharp drive and aggression. It brings to mind the powerful, intense songs from Discipline‚s strongest era and comes close to them in terms of hit potential. Tracks like „It’s a Lie“ and „Bovver Blitz“ maintain the solid standard of the entire record, with the music constantly pushing forward, supported by singalong choruses and occasional swinging hardcore passages. „Martyr“ once again leans toward stadium-style chants, while „Animal“ moves in a rawer early-’82 style.
Lyrically, these are all stories about coping with life in an urban environment. The band sticks to a consistent lyrical approach, and the texts fit naturally into the overall feel of the record. This is a promising debut and, for me, a bit of a surprise. I expected more hardcore, but got more streetrock-oriented songs – delivered in solid quality.
TOP TRACKY: One Of The Few, No Way Out, Shadow Days
