Straight Ahead
OK, there's no way around it. Pennywise often sound an awful lot likeBad Religion. But in some ways Pennywise's biggest flaw is also their greatest strength. The band's melange of power and melody suits them well, making songs like "My Own Country" and "Victim of Reality" as engaging as Bad Religion cuts like "You Are (the Government)" and "21st Century Digital Boy." Indeed, Pennywise's penchant for hooks maximizes the impact of their more bombastic material, allowing them to play at blistering speeds without dissolving into a dissonant blur. "Can't Believe It," for instance, pummels with hard-core beats and buzz-saw guitars, and still manages to incite uncontrollable bouts of grinning and head bobbing. And when Pennywise find a groove, as on the metallic anthem "Can't Take Anymore" or the harmony-laden "Alien," they're one of the most captivating pop-punk bands on the indie circuit.--Jon Wiederhorn