Formed in Manchester in 2004, ROTPM have been around a block a fair few times to say the least. Having shared stages with the likes of Bad Religion, Discharge and NomeansNo, as well as having their own Maida Vale Studios session in the bag, it’s fair to say they’ve done pretty well for themselves. On this, the bands third full length album, the band will be looking to continue on the path they have paved for themselves and bring their thrashy punk sound to more people than they have previously.
Reviewing this album track by track as I usually do is extremely difficult with this album, simply because each song is so frenetic and short. Opener To Be Frank straight away shows us why the band described as the album as a group of “One minute songs with indecipherable lyrics” and the song roars out of the traps with thrash-like energy and leaves the reader thinking that an album title has never described the sound of a band so well.
The pace never really slows down with each song finishing before you even had time to breathe it in. Being a punk record, many of the songs being very politically or socially motivated such as The Establishment and the absolutely brilliantly titled Dismantling The Corby(n) Trouser Press showing that, even if you don’t understand exactly what the lyrics are all about, ROTPM are still punk as hell.
There is a little more to the band than just fast uncontrollable punk, however, as the track Not All Animals are Satire contains a weirdly catchy chorus and will have crowds roaring the lyrics “everything is politics” and “we can shape the future” straight back at the band. Another moment on the album worth noting is the track Everyday I Start To Booze where we such a bit more metal in the punk, somewhat reminiscent of System Of A Down’s more insane and mental moments, showing that the band can in fact do more than just fast as fuck in your face punk music.
The album highlight comes in the form of the final track titled Rose Selavy (To Make A Toast To Life) where for what seems like the first time the pace actually slows down a little and actually brings a somewhat Metallica vibe into the song. The pace again picks up and it raw as hell ending the album on a highpoint.
Overall, this album does exactly what anyone who is aware of Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man will expect it to do. It’s fast as hell, it’s raw as fuck and it’s seriously fun.
8/10 – Good, fast, thrashy punk songs
Highlight – Rose Selavy (To Make A Toast To Life)