Maximum Penalty

Independent (IJT)
by Tim Creter

I have a hardcore headache. For the past month or so I’ve been listening to ’90s hardcore non-stop. Unfortunately, a lot of new bands today start to sound the same after a while. But you can listen to a band who’s been around a while to bring minimal relief to your head. That brings us to Maximum Penalty. They were a NYHC band that started in the early ’80s, disbanded for a while, then regrouped with new members in early ’95. Their latest is called Independent, and brother, my headache is gone. What makes them so noteworthy is that they’re an older bands whose new material blows today’s hardcore bands away. This is largely due to Jimmy (vocals), who sings (I mean sings, not screams or barks) really well, unusual lyric choices (Love!?! Yuck!), and top-notch musicians (Joe, Mike, and Darren). The album contains eight brand new songs, plus five older songs recorded live ta CBGBs, so your getting a little more bang for your buck. This is some mighty fine hardcore that really makes a distinction from other bands. Of course the press release, like other bands I review, really stacks up the complements, but this time there’s some credibility. Hold off on that Buffalo band and that new straight edge band you read about, and check out Maximum Penalty. It works for me.