Full of Heart

What exactly defines punk rock? Is it the pointy green Mohawk? Is it the outrageous amounts of tattoos and piercings? Is it the shiny leather jacket with metal studs and patches with the names of bands all over it? There are some people out there that might argue that punk rock is not defined by what you wear on the outside, but rather by what you possess on the inside.

After all, you can’t be a punk if your heart isn’t into it.

The recently reformed [with the suggestive name] Doggy Style from Huntington Beach, CA have an abundance of it. The band makes sure to pull no punches and give it their all on their latest effort, boldly entitled “Punkers Anthem,” released off of Cleopatra Records.

With 16 tracks of fast-paced, energetic, high-powered punk rock, you can’t go wrong. Sounding like a healthy assorted blend of The Offspring, Rancid and MxPx, the guys in Doggy Style proudly take the time out to explore plenty of interesting topics all throughout the album. From the opening track “Super Punkers,” where the words, “hardcore, don’t stop, get it up, jack it up…” are emphatically chanted to start the song, you get a glimpse into the no-nonsense “hardcore punk attitude.” Ever wanted to hear a song about falling in love with a girl in a mosh pit? It’s there. How about a song about finally hitting it big in the city? Also there. A song about donuts?  Well that’s here too.

It can safely be said that there is no such thing as limits on this record. If it can be talked about on this record, Doggy Style will find a way to take it and make it work.

This sets them apart from your average “every song we ever wrote is about a girl” punk rock band.

The five members of Doggy Style: Ed Caudill (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Tim Fyke (Vocals), Mark Tolbert  (Guitar/Vocals), Eric Vedder (Bass/Vocals), Danny Staggs (Guitar/Vocals), and Joey Ruffino (Drums/Vocals) all mesh together to create a sound that is familiar to the casual punk rocker yet unique in their own way. It is evident all throughout “Punkers Anthem” that the chemistry is definitely there. Also, as shown on the track “Beat Your Meat,” one of the best tracks on the album, the band is not afraid to take risks and mix in humor with their music and they do it very well.

With “Punkers Anthem” being the band’s first release within the last 20 years, longtime fans of Doggy Style might fear that the band just doesn’t have it anymore. In the ’80s, they had three classic hits, one of those hits being “Work As One.” After listening to the album and seeing that while the time has passed but the band’s style hasn’t, those fears will be put to bed. Even to the people who are hearing of the band for the first time, “Punkers Anthem” will have no problem getting behind their music, as any track off the album sounds right up there with the best new punk bands.

However, “Punkers Anthem” is not going to be known as the all-time greatest punk rock album ever to hit eardrums. Some tracks on the album like “Loser” and “Ladies From Neptune” fall flat lyrically speaking and also seem out of place amongst the other tracks. But overall, if you are just looking for songs with infectious guitar riffs, choruses that make you want to sing along until you’re blue in the face, just all-out, quick, balls-to-the-wall, straight-out punk rock, then “Punkers Anthem” is the definite way to go.

While It won’t be the first thing that immediately comes to mind when you think of the words “punk rock,” it does do a pretty damn good job of trying to make a case for it.