AWmusic

The Bronx‘s new record not only welcomes the long overdue lead guitarist Joby Ford and replacement bassist Brad Magers, it has also renewed the band’s love for label independence. Issued on White Drugs, the record label managed by the band themselves, it is a departure from their shortlived stay with Island/Def Jam record for their last record.

Problems some fans had with their last record included that it was too melodic, too poppy, slow, and a general change in direction not welcomed by many who enjoyed their first eponymous release. While it had a few songs that may have been their strongest yet, the last song on the album almost seemed like a concession to Island Records, a singable, innocuous sounding punk revival ballad. With songs like “Fallen Leaves” constantly disrupting the flow of the album, the energy fans had grown accustomed to was somehow lacking.

Now that the Bronx are once again on their own, they can comfortably attribute any new success to their own abilities, not the marketing campaigns of a major record label. The first song from the new record, “Knifeman”, was posted on their MySpace as a teaser to the upcoming album. When I first heard it I wasn’t sure what to think. That is to say, had the Bronx returned to their original style? Or was it just a sequel to The Bronx II?

After hearing the rest of the record it became clear that it was neither, but also not anything entirely new. “Inveigh” invokes the same kind of groove as their last album’s “History’s Stranglers”, while “Enemy Mind” has the choking intensity of the most popular songs from their first release. The Bronx are stubborn to abandon styles they’ve leaned on in the past, but in this album they’ve managed to take the best of both worlds. The catchy melodies are still there, but Matt’s vocals once again ring like a rusty chainsaw. The pace sometimes slows but this time the momentum is never lost, the Bronx don’t take a break.

There is so much intensity and grittiness in this album that some critics will likely argue it is a complete return to their original style. Whether or not that is the case, one thing is for certain. Whatever changed after the Bronx took in Brad and Joby and left Island, it didn’t hurt.

Knifeman by The Bronx

Young Bloods by The Bronx

Video of Young Bloods after the jump.
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