Rentokill - Back To Convenience
Reviewed on Oct 8, 2005 by Tom
A lot of good things have come out of the Austrian scene as of late. I still remember the early days of starting this website when a simple label sampler from the now defunct (at least I presume) Remedy Records opened my eyes to the richness of that scene with a few acts that blew me away. A few years later I can safely say i’ve found a great number of bands that really grabbed my attention. The melodic hardcore of a Red Lights Flash, the skapunking delight of Jan Feat U.D.S.S.R., the skacore goodness of Antimaniax who can give Rancid a runf or their money; together with bands like 3 Feet Smaller, Side Effect and Random who stick to more poppy tenures. Latest band on my discovery list is Wiener, Neustadts Rentokill.
I have a problem with labels like Fat Wreck. There is no new blood, no revitalisation. They seem to feed off of whatever „their settled values“ can produce. Somehow, I don’t quite look at releases from Nufan, Lagwagon, Strung Out and other famous bands on the label in the same way as I used to abck in the day. It seems to me they either play too much on automatic pilot, out of sheer experience than with actual joy or they just go and loose themselves on the experimental path (Blaze anyone?). What’s missing for me personally is that youthful energy, that spark that sets everything ablaze, whether it is your living room or your local venue. I’m missing that with a lot of bands on Fat Wreck’s roster, and hence I seriously regret the fact that a label like that won’t follow into the footsteps of a Go Kart Records for example and start up a European division of it’s label because it seems to me a lot of European acts do fit their label profile and are just able to bring that little bit extra that seems lost on most of their recent releases. If you’re looking what the point is in writing this last paragraph inbetween a review from an Austrian band? Well, it’s simple. Rentokill is Fat Wreck material, and they deserve the recognition that comes with being on a renowned label. Not that Rise Or Rust isn’t doing a good job. Far from in fact.
Do NOT mistake these guys for the Swedish metalcore act Rentokiller, because Rentokill is all about bringing fast-fuelled pumped-up anthemic punkrock with an angry attitude, yet steered in a positive direction. The 15 songs on display are all very powerfull, and come across with a lot of enthusiasm, pretty much in a straight-in-your face approach. I could easily compare Rentokill to a lot of bands because they certainly have a lot of elements from the more known bands out there in them, but all you really have to remember is that it’s a pretty entertaining mix that doesn’t let down. From the vocal harmonies, carried by multiple chords and with a lot of different accents, to the energetic riffage that sits easily on the ear and adds to the whole melodic feel, there is simply nothing wrong with this album. I can’t fault it for anything. Even the Greek instrumental bit that is song 14 can’t kill it for me (maybe my girlfriend has something to do with that but hey!). This is a tight, fast-paced but mostly an impressing debut full-length from a band who clearly have everything well under control and even find the time to try and get a political and social message across in a very positive and earnest-sounding way.
If you like Rise Against, ZSK, NOFX and such you should give Rentokill a few minutes of your time. Overall it reminds me very strongly of their swedish counterparts in Venerea whom I always considered to be masters in the world of fast-paced melodic punkrock that is based on technical proficiency. Back To Convenience is good stuff, but fair warning is due: drink a tea before listening to prepare your vocal chords!
Album Information
| Best Song: | sounds of a pityful end |
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| Medium/Type: | Full-Length |
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| Released: | June 22nd, 2004 |
| Record Label: | Rise Or Rust Records |
Related Links:
| Viewed: | 933 times |
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Tracklisting
- recuerdos de phoolan devi
- sounds of a pityful end
- go and get it right
- anything
- revenge of the animals
- signs of zodiac
- clockwork of meat industry
- ten roses
- herbs against the anxiety
- we are not rockin´
- sweet & sour
- olympia W.A.*
- srebrenica 7/11
- what they say
- songs of convenience
Rentokill
Band Profile
Band Of The Month December 2004
Album Reviews
 | Antichorus May 18, 2007   |
 | Back To Convenience Jun 22, 2004 |
Interviews
 | May 29, 2007 |