Cerebral Ballzy - Jaded & Faded
- Written by Kenneth McMurtrie
Titling your second album Jaded & Faded hints rather heavily at a loss of love for a career in the recording industry you might think and who could be surprised if a young band have had the desire drained out of them in the face of the increased pressures all acts face nowadays?
Happily though, right from the start of 'Another Day', this is obviously as energetic and feisty a baker's dozen of hardcore tracks as you'll have expected from the Brooklyn quartet (currently they've slimmed down following a parting of the ways with guitarist Mason). 'Off With Your Head' offers up a near-polished and pop-like two and a half minutes of vigour whilst elsewhere The Stupids are vividly brought to mind ('Pretty In The City', 'City's Girl').
Though obviously not likely to go on to the same ultimate lengths that The Horrors have done with their sound there is a definite parallel with the UK band in terms of the retention of the core elements from Cerebral Ballzy's self-titled 2011 debut and their marrying up with a more mature set of production values. Song lengths are still resolutely short and sharp but with the clearer sound overall they arguably punch harder than the first album's contents due to the extra accessibility which that affords the works.
Firmly cementing their place in the firmament of punk worldwide and not solely amongst their native New York's illustrious heritage the band have fully delivered on their earlier evident promise and look set to enjoy a successful time until they need to do it all over again for album number three (which should be a dawdle).
