Punk super group Transplants third album In A Warzone has finally arrived, it’s been set for release since 2010. Transplants are Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, Blink-182’s Travis Barker and Death March’s Rob Aston. They formed in 1999 when Armstrong showed friend and roadie Aston some beats he had made using Pro Tools and asked Rob if he would consider contributing lyrics. After officially forming a band Armstrong and Aston realised they needed a drummer, hence one of the best punk rock drummers of all time Travis Barker.
In A Warzone is based in the world of punk/rock/rap but has fingers in many musical pies (R&B, drum and bass, pop anthems).
The title track opens up the album in a way that ‘Romper Stomper’ opened Transplants debut record – noisily and impressive – and, almost instantly, there’s a positive vibe oozing from the record. The relaxed, play-what-we-like guise of the band is at the forefront of everything, harking back to the first album and throwing out catchy tunes for fun. This fun sound does get boring quickly and in the blink of an eye we’re four tracks in.
‘Come Around’ breaks the thick punk fog, being more of a pop anthem than a child of The Ramones. Twang-y acoustic guitar and even an organ tell a tale of feeling lost in life is the theme of the track. There is still a hint of sleaze in this track and fast chorus is strangely catchy for how wordy it is. For a punk super group Transplants can write a great anti-pop pop song.
‘Something Different’ is blues with gold changes and mohawks. Plonky piano underlays distorted guitar stabs, and a 90’s R&B chorus sound like a horrible combination but strangely works.
Messy drum and bass is what Transplants turn their hand too next with ‘It’s a Problem’. The start of this track sounds like title music to an arcade shoot ‘em up, it then morphs straight into ‘Pump It’ by the Black Eyed Peas with a touch more drums.