Ryders

Zasso (Flipside)
by Joshua Brown

From the liner notes: “Zasso, which means grasses in the wilderness, symbolizes people living in the crazy tough lifestyle.” Japan’s answer to punk rock with commercial potential, Ryders are sorta the land of the rising sun’s answer to Rancid. They’re talented musically and re-popularize ’70s-style punk. Though they’ve released six albums, Zasso is the first release for those of us living the “crazy tough lifestyle” on this side of the Pacific.