Modern Life is War : "Life On the Moon"

 

The band's first full-length in over a decade finds them deviating from what you might expect from punk in 2025. Though it might make sense if you were asking what was in the mid-70s. There is still plenty of aggression in the vocals on "First Song on the Moon". Though layers of sung vocals chime in on the chorus. The guitars carry a frantic jangle rather than a hardcore chug. "There is a Telephone That Never Stops Ringing" finds a greater urgency in the mood that the song explodes with. It's organic chaos even in the more layered sounds that unfold, reminding me of the Stooges' "Funhouse" album. 

"Empty Shoes" is more melodic. It is darker and sounds like how you might imagine a collaboration between  Radiohead and  Fugazi would turn out. "Jackie Oh No" strikes a balance between the more punk tension and the melodic brooding of the previous track by allowing it to build into an outburst by the end. "Johnny Gone" is back in a more frantic churning. There is a jagged tempo that recalls bands like Gang of Four, which empowers this song.  There is more of a 90s post-hardcore mood to "Homecoming Queen." 

They return to their punk roots for "You Look Like the Morning Explosion," which is an outburst that is under a minute, energy that is better expended on "In the Shadow of Ingredion," which has a Motorhead-like rock n roll undercurrent. "Bloodsport" is also a legit dive in punk. It also plays it too close to the definition of punk, but it works well enough. This fades into the weird instrumental piece "Kid Hard Dub" that finds a sax taking the spotlight. It almost sounds like a drunk duck. I appreciate any form of experimentation on a punk record. 

"Over the Road" is darker, with the vocals yelling from a distance. But it feels more like an intro for the last song, which has the album's best riff. It's pretty impressive, despite an odd mix that finds the drums sitting further back than what we heard on the more punk moments. Overall, I really like their sense of adventure and refusing to conform to the expectations of punk, which is what punk is about, so I will give this one a 9.5. Drops September 5th on Death Wish Inc. 

Thanks for reading, give a listen to the song below and  please "like" and share on social media to give music a voice 

https://www.facebook.com/abysmalhymns

Check out our Podcast here ... https://www.youtube.com/@abysmalhymns666

pst410