Maximum Rocknroll

by

NOFX

Edit

A collection of recordings done by Doug Moody of Mystic Records, Maximum Rocknroll certainly lives up to its name for fans of prog-hardcore thrash punk, and most certainly outshoots the wimpy, over regurgitated ska-tinged pop rock that flowed throughout most of No F-X's later releases.

With a solid amount of thrash at the roots, songs like Live Your Life and Too Mixed Up show the band's tendencies to craft together quick, usually up to 15-second long jams of different tempos, beats and guitar tunes together into fast, furious tracks (each track is at the maximum of 2 and a half minutes, with the exception of a cover of Black Sabbath's Iron Man). While the fusion of each of these jams is at times sloppy (give or take lyrics all following in the same vein), they keep the backbone for the album's progressive character that keep the listener coming back for more, while the catchier tracks such as the oi-inspired Hold It Back or the pseudo-suspenseful bass-dominated Bang Gang have enough consistent and mind-sticking bass/guitar tunes to spare. The wide character in some of the album's tracks is best proven with the metal-sounding instrumental track, where each of the band members slowly jam on their instruments together like Led Zeppelin, and at the end of the track one of the band members shouts like a goon, "LET ME DO IT AGAAAAAAIIIIIIIIN."

The band has a pretty basic yet well-crafted plan: Mike's drunken teenage hooligan voice and mostly catchy key-jangling bass tunes meet the fiery, metallic, usually tight and sharp guitar riffs by Eric Melvin. Then it all sews itself together with the rough beats of Erik Sandin, whose typically mid-tempo 2/2 or 3/3 drumbeats are a bit unimpressive until he throws in pulse-pounding machine gun beats that rattle up all the riffs together with loud intensity, making it a screaming, hyper-active frenzy if not with hopping beat (Hit It, On My Mind) or close to funky playing (ID). Of course, this is only further characterized by the snotty vocal feedback (Hit It, Too Mixed Up, Bob Turkee, White Bread), the echo and reverb and the dark, low-note relaxing breakdowns that appear in some tracks to wrap out the thrash-fest with an almost ambient effect (ID, Bob Turkee). Mike's beslubbering and inexperienced vocals add a meaningful accent of their own to the lyrics that have the side of party-crashing goofball humor (Six Pack Girls, Cops And Donuts, Lager In the Dark, Bob Turkee) or mocking and in-the-corner views of lifestyle (Live Your Life, ID). All in all, Maximum Rocknroll is an impressive piece of post-metal thrash punk with an experimental edge. Also, keep in mind: Unlike many later No F-X releases, don't expect poppy melodies here. This album shows the band as proficient hardcore punk rockers that can twist out dark and cutting tunes.

Lastly, check the cover of Black Sabbath's Iron Man. You won't be disappointed.