Album Reviews

I realized I needed more new Useless ID songs in my life after having heard “We Don’t Want The Airwaves”, the band’s tribute to the Ramones, two months ago. And holy crap, they sure don’t disappoint on “State Is Burning”, their eighth full-length and first new album in four years.

They immediately grab you by the balls with the opening one-two combo that is “Land Of Idiocracy” and “Stopwatch”, two ferocious yet deliciously melodic tunes that take you right back to the mid 90ies. Normally, getting grabbed there is quite painful, but with songs like “How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb”, “Novice” and the title track the pain quickly turns to pleasure… just the way Useless ID’s label boss likes it.

After twenty years in the game, Useless ID still manage to crank out incredibly catchy and energetic punk rock tunes that are all their own, yet at the same time echo all the greats. Bad Religion, Descendents, No Use For A Name, Lawagon… they’re all in there somewhere. Guitarist Ishay Berger said about the new album that it is the band’s fuck you to the closed-minded, racist, orthodox state of mind and their statement against greedy, hateful, harmful and criminal politicians. It shows. But it sure is one of the best-sounding fuck you’s I’ve heard in a while.