It’s been a crazy 30 years since Brunt Of It debuted in the hardcore ska and punk scene. Now, with help from Jump Up Records, for the first time in 13 years, the Massachusetts band has put out new music. Proudly declaring themselves as no-wave ska, the album features hardcore punk and rock with some heavy ska and perhaps a little jazz and reggae as well. If I had to find a good comparison for them, it might be somewhere between Stuck Lucky and Sgt Scag, two other bands that put out albums in the last two years after each taking a long hiatus from new music and both have their own ska-core and hardcore influences.
The album opens with “Right Light”, which is an absolute banger of an introduction, featuring David McWane from Big D and the Kids Table. It comes in heavy, with powerful horns, a powerful ska-punk guitar, and solid vocals throughout the track. It’s a great introduction to the sound of the album, has some good tempo changes, and is Probably a little less rock and roll and more punk than several other tracks on the album. The chorus has a little room for aggressive singalong, and a little optimism while giving hope and asking to not dwell on the past and to seek growth.
“C’est La Vie” slows it down a little, features outstanding keys, and is an absolute jam with a little bit more of a reggae punk feel. It might even have a slight touch of swing revival feel at parts, but definitely more aggressive, and while it’s absolutely a great track, I’m even more fond of “Hypnotized”, which has an even bigger swing sound, while expressing outrage at the brainwashed masses being enthralled by propaganda as state-sponsored media and stockholder profit dictates.
The horns and keys throughout the album are solid. “War and Wars” is another solid political song, with outstanding keys and horns, this one feels like an 80s metal song to me, but it has fucking outstanding synth, horns, and guitars. The blend of genres is unique and outstanding, and I like the song more every time, “Idiocracy” is largely what you would expect, lyrically, while featuring huge guitars, keys, and horns. It just builds up as an epic song to get everyone moving.
“HR-187” starts off with a slow vocal spoken word, before kicking into one of the biggest ska songs on the album about gun violence in schools where the horns, keys, and backing vocals carry the melody. I love how well these songs don’t feel nearly as political as they are and yet the messages are very clear. None of the songs (despite some of the names) hit you over the head bluntly with their politics, but the message is clear and consistent.
“Diabolik” feels like ska meets AC/ DC meets spy v spy, and I can’t explain anything further than that, so I won’t.
The album does feel like it goes on a little too long. I don’t know what songs I might be tempted to cut out, but 40 minutes feels like it’s a little too much. Overall, the album is great. Despite the 30 years of their existence, this is my first exposure to Brunt Of It, and it’s definitely going on the playlist and several songs are getting added to the rotation. A very solid addition from Jump Up Records to keep 2025 rolling with nonstop great music.
Written by Gimp Leg
