Only Crime

To the Nines (Fat)
by Ewan Wadharmi

Is it a supergroup, or a side project? A bunch of veteran players forming a new band could be as pitiful as Transplants or as thrilling as The Wylde Ratttz. Can we call Stiff Little Fingers a supergroup featuring members of Stiff Little Fingers, The Alarm, and The Jam? Does DK stand for Dead Kennedys or Dr. Know? These questions and more will be answered somewheres else, but I can tell you that members of Good Riddance, Black Flag, Descendants, GWAR, and Bane drop a healthy dose of good old hardcore as Only Crime.

The inevitable Black Flag influence is manifested in more speed than a typical crank-fiend with rip-roaring guitars that stay crunchy in milk. Russ Rankin lets loose with more abandon than we’ve heard in some time, like the new configuration offers more freedom. What differentiates this from Good Riddance is the fuller guitar sound, and more complicated, arty chords. Geez, that description sounds like Fugazi. Only Crime isn’t averse to a melody, and their fierce delivery could shame most of the young bands trying to follow in their footsteps. Try to keep up, kids, this is how it’s done.
(www.fatwreck.com)