This was a sticky release for me. When you place the pared down, simply produced, fiercely political punk of Bay Area quartet Static Thought next to the fauxhawk, strategically pierced, designer ripped jeans, diary of tears, pop-punk emo shit that’s been swamping MTV and mainstream radio since Blink 182’s watered-down version of “punk,” it’s just about cathartic. However, when placed in the context of the bands that inspired Static Thought (namely those mentioned above under “Others”), they just don’t hold the same weight. It’s not that they’re less skilled -- I mean, it is punk we’re talking about here -- ’cause ST obviously play what they play tight and direct.
The problem is, we’ve all heard this exact same album several times before. They lack that one definitive single punch owned by the likes of Rancid’s “Time Bomb” or the anthemic revolutionary force of Pennywise’s “Bro Hymn,” the indescribable personality of, say, NOFX’s “Kill All The White Man,” or the barrage of memorable riffage and quirky choruses of The Ramones. In The Trenches is basically straightforward ’90s punk, done and done. Granted, they didn’t take the easy way out by aping that AFI emo pap, but that doesn’t make them any more transcendent in their own field. If they threw in a few musical curveballs and worked on their hooks a little, they may make something that sticks out and lives on in your head well after you’ve finished listening. As is, it’s a decent first step to build on.
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