There is a lot of retro hardcore out there that just doesn’t cut it for one reason or another. Lack of innovation, bad lyrics, dynamics and sloppy musicianship are generally the downfall for many a group when it crosses the threshold into my dominion. BAN THIS! may not be the most original band at the moment, yet they have some of the elements necessary to take it to the next level. These guys have certain familiar elements that came from the greats. THE DEAD KENNEDYS, JFA, BLACK FLAG, RITES OF SPRING, and early DIE KREUZEN come to mind. The guitars are a little more atypical in a punk world littered with bar chord billys. The drumming gets kind of proggy at times which adds to the overall picture.

Part of “Psychotic Reactions” strength is that upon hearing opening tunes like “Learn To Forget”, “Losing Ground”, and “Pressure – Pressure”, the listener can differentiate from one track to the next. And there are quite a few tracks here to deal with in the half hour that this disc spins through. 25 to be exact! That’s a lot information to soak in. The CD is split into three sessions from recent recordings to year-old recordings, and tracks from a 2005 7-inch record. “Eyes Of A Dreamer” is one of the best songs here. The segway from “Dig In” to “Pipeline” is very impressive as well. The use of cowbell periodically adds to the fun that these straight edger’s seem to be having. Good stuff.

- Herring

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/banxthis

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