Since forming in 2001, Canadian outfit Fucked Up have attracted a devoted cult following for their brand of abrasive, take-no-prisoners punk. Led by the charismatic vocalist Pink Eyes (aka Damian Abraham), the band’s devotion to the punk aesthetic is all-encompassing, from their uproarious live shows to their scorched earth, sonically devastating records.
If Fucked Up’s fourth album, Glass Boys, is anything to go by, crossover appeal remains decidedly low on their agenda. Packed wall to wall with pounding drums, corrosive guitars and Abraham’s hardcore screaming, the Fucked Up formula is one in which the emphasis is on energy and aggression, and melody is reduced to an option.
Opener ‘Echo Boomer’ forgoes the niceties and gets straight down to business, with blistering guitar and Abraham’s growled vocals to the fore. The following ‘Touch Stone’ is, if anything, even more abrupt, a wailing punk thrash tailor-made for those who love the smell of Napalm Death in the morning. ‘Touch Stone’ is another guitar freakout which does at least feature a brief, shout-along refrain, but for the most part, Glass Boys is manic punk played at pain threshold volume.
Though ‘Warm Change’ is propelled forward by a fuzz-bass rhythm and ‘Paper The House’ does contain something approaching a chorus, tunes are generally in short supply. Even fellow noise merchants such as Melvins and Sleep will throw in the occasional riff for the casual listener to latch onto, but Fucked Up’s appetite for sonic destruction is apparently insatiable.
While the band’s uncompromising stance is admirable, it definitely doesn’t make for easy listening. Certainly, their inclusion on the next volume of Now That’s What I Call Apocalyptic Hardcore! is guaranteed.