59 Times the Pain

End of the Millennium (Epitaph)
by Tim Den

The Hellacopters are rubbing off on the rest of their European rock’n’rollers. 59 Times The Pain is proof of that. Hardcore guitar sound, youth crew vocals, rebellious lyrics… but laced with an early-punk/Oi/ Ramones feel. This band was probably a regular hardcore band until The Hellacopters brought the wisdom and knowledge of “the rock” – MC5, The New Bomb Turks, Iggy And The Stooges – to the continent’s attention. Okay, maybe that’s stretching it. But there’s no denying that 59 Times The Pain definitely wasn’t this in-tune with the rock spirit a few years ago.

Credit should still be given though, because they distinguish themselves by adding more to their music than just rock jams. Hints of working class punk (a la Dropkick Murphys) are just as rampant, and the addition of that street-level vibe gives the band a whole other dimension (check out “Me Against the World”). The fusion of hardcore’s energy, Oi’s anthemic tendencies, and rock’n’roll’s sleazy power make 59 Times The Pain an enjoyable listen.
(2798 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026)