Album Reviews

- by Tom Dumarey

Aussie band Nerdlinger have reached their ‘Happy Place’ on their third release. And if you are like me and have been introduced to punk rock by all the 90ies acts on Epitaph and Fat Wreck, then you are guaranteed to get there with them.

The drums are off to the races from the second opening track ’30 Seconds Of Satisfaction’ kicks in. Guitars either shred, harmonize or solo like there’s no tomorrow. And every song on here packs the kind of melodies that Blink-182 excelled at. You know, back when they still played solid punk rock instead of looking up to the sky for green aliens or helping the Navy capture Osama Bin Laden.

‘The Ballad Of Rod Lightning’ is anything but a ballad and one of my personal favorites on the album. Especially thanks to the waltz-y interlude. But there’s no shortage of solid songs on here and the band keeps it interesting by constantly changing gears, throwing in a duet (well, kinda) with ‘Sails’ and thanks to some unexpected horns that make an appearance in the slower ‘Song Of The Damned’.

If you are into the likes of No Use For A Name, Lagwagon, NOFX or Frenzal Rhomb, do yourself a favor and dig out those baggy pants you still have laying around somewhere and turn ‘Happy Place’ way the fuck up.

Track listing:

1. 30 Seconds Of Satisfaction
2. Contagious
3. Can Yu Forgive Me?
4. The Ballad of Rod Lightning
5. Sails
6. Underrated
7. Fat Gav
8. Sunny Days
9. German Wings
10. I've Taken Five
11. Miyajima Cockroaches
12. Song of the Damned
13. Milk
14. Superficial