Undercity Kings are bringing old school punk back. This has the gnarly, metallic sound of the 70s, still rusty and filthy with that human touch. This album is from 2023 and is called FUN SUCKER. Chris Pawling is here to show us that you can never take the human element out of punk. The rebellion is what makes it all the more thrilling.
Like the hardcore punk band Black Flag, Undercity Kings waste no time in getting to the point. The drums are brutal; the tempo is like being chased. HERE’S A BUCK is the opening song. The band sounds like The Ramones on cocaine, charging hard at every beat. In just 1:35 seconds, the band sets the tone for the rest of the album. The middle section has a very fun groove, where I expect people to mosh. CASH TIPS goes on to show the range and versatility of the band. The tempo is different, and the bass is laid on thick. Dare I say, this song has all the elements for thrash. Another track under two minutes, Undercity Kings shows no remorse. It is like listening to a Gatling gun escape its hiding place.
Bringing down the house
This live band chemistry is what I miss most about the era of punk. Fun Sucker loves to catch you off guard, thriving on true punk. Songs like PENDEJO will show you that time is of the essence for this band. Unnecessary build-ups are thrown out the window. At just under a minute, FUN SUCKER becomes one of their fastest and feverishly fun tracks. Undercity Kings promises to be a punk project that displays some of the best talent across the indie scene. The meaty bassline in the cover of GFY is a definite attention grabber, continuing with that cranked-up tempo. There is no telling where the band will take you next.
Todd Mitchell, Tami Mitchell, Chris Pawling and Tommy Walters promise to be real with the music they make. This 2023 album is being revisited now because we are sure Undercity Kings have something up their sleeve. If a debut is so strong, imagine the nuclear follow-through that is going to happen. With this collection they have even been able to tour South Korea and Japan. In just seven tracks, Undercity Kings have been able to say more than many bands do in a decade together. This is how a garage band should sound: unapologetic, ready to rock, and wanting to change the scene while revisiting and respecting the old.
Though the band are touring live now, we are sure we’ll be hearing a few singles or an EP release very soon from Undercity Kings. Kids, take note: this is how punk is supposed to sound:
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