When a band cites their influences as Black Sabbath and ZZ Top, they are guaranteed my immediate attention. Coming from the same scene that spawned Circle Jerks, Black Flag and Suicidal Tendencies only served to pique my interest further and The Shrine from Venice, California do not disappoint. The only issue I have is that 4 track E.P is not longer as I am gasping for more after this.
They tackle very real modern problems with a greasy 70’s swagger, mixed with the denim, sweat and spray can attitude of 80’s punk and the result is glorious. Opening track Cruel World has that laid back ZZ Top groove with front man Josh Landau channeling Jack White in places with some falsetto vocals. “Dancing On A Razor’s Edge” kicks it up a notch with some sleazed up Suicidal Tendencies riffing falling out of the speakers. Never mind the fact they already have a deal with Converse and their own Dogtown deck, here we have a band, who can rip it up and get down and dirty with the best of them. “The Taste Of Blood” is perhaps the strongest track on the E.P. The fuzzed up guitar and galloping beat reminds me of an imaginary jam session with Monster Magnet and Motorhead and they keep us this tempo as they blast through “She Is Never” with Landau once again bringing some falsetto vocals to proceedings.
They already gained some celebrity recognition having appeared on Norman “Walking Dead” Reedus’s show and been lauded by renowned street artist Shepard Fairey and having just added the talents of the superb Corey Parks of Nashville Pussy fame to their ranks, this a band that is ready to take off. Punks, old rockers, skate kids, stoners and everybody in between will soon be bowing down at The Shrine.