Second release from Texan punks BRIX!, whose brand of hardcore has a definite rock’n’roll underbelly (as evidenced by the inclusion of the riff from “Back in Black” by AC/DC on their previous release). On Fucked If I Know, there aren’t any classic rock covers to be heard, but on tracks like the excellent “Skunk,” the band leans into some Motörpunk/late ANTI-CIMEX vibes that I hope they continue to incorporate.
Seven original cuts of straight-ahead street rock and a by-the-numbers NEGATIVE APPROACH cover. BRIX! keeps things moving along at a brisk pace, which I appreciate. None of the songs crack the two-minute mark, and they play faster than many bands that they might be compared to. While not as refined as CONSERVATIVE MILITARY IMAGE, these lads are cooking with a few of the same ingredients, blending hardcore and Oi! As expected, the vocals are gravely with plenty of gang chants throughout. A touch of pub rock influence creeps in, culminating in a lifted “Back In Black” lick at the end of their eponymously titled song “Brix!”—I could’ve done without that, but it is instructive. They don’t sound like AC/DC, but they do sound like the kind of band that would randomly break into a tired AC/DC riff.
