AUTHORITY ZERO “Andiamo”
I’ve been fairly into AUTHORITY ZERO since their debut album, “A Passage In Time,” plopped into my lap a little more than a year ago. With the band working steadfastly towards achieving West Coast punk rock nirvana, as well as working in strong elements of ska, reggae, and surf, AUTHORITY ZERO are nothing but ambitious. “Andiamo” is a hefty improvement for the band, streamlining AUTHORITY ZERO’s fascination with BAD RELIGION, PENNYWISE, and SUBLIME into something that’s largely light on the head, but pleasurable to the ears. There’s nothing particularly original, or even all that dramatic on “Andiamo,” but these guys know how to write tight songs that feature vibrant, long-lasting hooks. At their most energetic moments, AUTHORITY ZERO remind of somewhat of 7 SECONDS, especially when they work in positive lyrical themes. At the other extreme is the band’s penchant for reggae/surf rock guitar lines, and while the gulf between full throttle melodicore, and chill, “gather around the BBQ” tunes is rather wide, AUTHORITY ZERO do their best to tie everything together. “Andiamo” was produced and recorded by Ryan Greene (NOFX, PULLEY, LAGWAGON), and unsurprisingly the band assimilates perfectly into the typical, ultra-clean recording style that Mr. Greene is known for. Although some of this polish strips away from the faster material’s burning intensity, the slower, more intricate songs sound fantastic. AUTHORITY ZERO are a rare breed for a punk band on a major label – they come armed with no silly schtick, no stupid collective haircuts, and no “extreme-genre” defying faux reputation. “Andiamo” may not set the world ablaze, but if you think your catalog of PENNYWISE releases is growing stale, AUTHORITY ZERO begs for your attention.
Lava
