Review
In an era awash with slick production and manufactured pop, Punk Rock Factory’s All Hands on Deck emerges as a welcome jolt of unadulterated punk spirit—a record that’s as bracingly raw as it is defiantly honest. From the opening salvo, it’s clear that this album isn’t here to pander; it’s here to rally, provoke, and remind us all why punk remains a vital cultural force. Right from the first track, the album hits you with a burst of adrenaline. Gritty, blistering guitar riffs tear through the speakers, setting a relentless pace that’s matched only by the pounding, no-nonsense drumming. The vocals are a force of nature, blending snarled defiance with moments of surprisingly melodic insight. It’s a performance that channels the raw, live energy of a midnight punk gig—each lyric a pointed jab at modern complacency and societal excess. Lyrically, All Hands on Deck is unflinching in its critique of everything from political indifference to the banalities of contemporary life. The band’s pen is as sharp as its guitar, delivering observations with a wit and ferocity that are unmistakably British. There’s an undercurrent of solidarity running through the record, a rallying cry for anyone feeling sidelined by the relentless march of the establishment. It’s punk that doesn’t just shout—it speaks directly to the disaffected, the dreamers, and the rebels. The production is refreshingly unpolished, a deliberate choice that preserves the album’s live-wire intensity. There’s little in the way of studio gloss here; instead, what you get is a soundscape that’s as immediate and visceral as a front-row mosh pit. This rawness is not a flaw but a feature—a reminder that sometimes, the most potent form of art is that which speaks straight from the heart, unfiltered and uncompromising. In sum, All Hands on Deck is a rallying call for those who crave authenticity in a world of superficiality. Punk Rock Factory deliver an album that’s both a furious attack on the status quo and an invitation to join in the cathartic release of collective dissent. For anyone who believes that punk isn’t just a sound but a way of life, this record is an absolute must-listen.
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Info
"All Hands On Deck" is the latest album by Welsh pop-punk band Punk Rock Factory, released on February 14, 2025, through Cooking Vinyl. The album features energetic, punk-infused covers of iconic 1990s hits, including tracks like "Boom! Shake the Room," "Back For Good," and "Livin' La Vida Loca." The band self-produced the album, recording it at their own facility, The Sausage Factory, in South Wales. In the UK, "All Hands On Deck" debuted at number six on the Official Albums Chart.
Tracklisting
- Boom! Shake the Room
- C'est La Vie
- Back for Good
- Larger Than Life
- Bring It All Back
- I Am, I Feel
- Bye Bye Bye
- Life
- Gangsta's Paradise
- Livin' La Vida Loca
- Teardrop