Wednesday 29 April 2020

Album Review: Death In Venice Beach by The Bombpops (by Chris Bishton)


For a band to be releasing just their second album in their 13 year history, you might think their hearts weren't really in. Not so with The Bombpops. Death in Venice Beach follows up 2017's Fear Of Missing Out debut and what seems to have been a pretty constant few years of touring throughout America and Europe.

It also follows the well documented drummer and bassist revolving door years, all of which means the band are now a firm fixture in the Fat Wreck stable, regulars on the Punk In Drublic stage and even performing cameo appearances in NOFX videos. So, in fact, it turns out the band are incredibly hardworking and with Death in Venice Beach they've put out a great record. A just reward for hard work paying off.


The Bombpops are unashamedly pop punk. And I find that a great thing, especially in these dark times. No pretence, just great perky, devil-may-care, fast, sing-a-long pop punk. But, that's not to say that they're in any way shallow. There's no cringey, unrelatable, teen-angst material here. The first track is Dearly Departed and straight away name checks a host of A listers now no longer with us – from Jesus to Sid Vicious – whilst pondering whether these people offer any life lessons to us today. It's not normal pop punk fodder, but it's still a great pop punk song.

Next is Double Arrows Down. One of the singles from the album that was released before it came out. I already loved this before I heard the whole LP and hearing it again, in the context of the rest of the album, I still do. There are many bands that raise awareness of issues that are important to them, and this song is one of those for The Bombpops. Poli van Dam, guitarist and co-lead singer, has Type 1 diabetes. She often refers to the disease in interviews, on social media and now this song specifically records an incident when she had a seizure on tour a couple of years ago. Again, it's a pretty dark subject for a pop punk track, but I love how Poli and the band have produced a brilliantly energetic and catchy track like this, but have also helped people's understanding of a disease many still don't know much about.

There's brilliant harmonies teamed with great guitar riffs and hooks throughout this record. Zero Remorse shows this off perfectly. Poli and Jen Razavi, the band's other guitarist and co-lead singer, share singing duties and accompany each other really well on this.

Perhaps the only song that's a letdown to me comes next. It's odd because it's the other track that was released as a single before the album, Notre Dame. Lyrically, it's on a more familiar pop punk footing – a broken relationship, getting over that, moving on etc. – and it is fast, melodic, catchy, but this doesn't really do it for me. Maybe those sort of lyrics just aren't for me?

Sad To Me is a bit slower, but seems to flow from the previous track. It’s all about someone (the person in the previous song?) being a dick! Harmonies, tuneful guitar and a sing-a-long chorus. I like this a lot more and the album is back on track.

The other standouts for me are Can't Come Clean and 13 Stories Down. Both referencing drinking, but not in a puffy, fun, glamorous manner; rather in a more introspective, cautionary and regretful way. The first starts with a clip of the band arguing, swearing, threatening to quit and probably recorded when alcohol had been flowing. The song then kicks in and a signature pop punk flows. It's about drunken fights and crappy posts on social media – something I'm sure many will relate to – but it also turns out that it's semi-autobiographical tale as Poli has since revealed she's been in rehab and has embraced sobriety.

The record concludes with Southbound Stranger. A rollicking and memorable way to finish off a record. It's also easy to imagine the band smashing this out live. I haven't seen them for a few years, but it's a great reminder for me to catch them at the next opportunity.

Death In Venice Beach is a cracking pop punk album. It's a So-Cal, Fat Wreck release so some will have an opinion formed on that alone – pop-punkers and skaters should love it. But as well as having that feel good, pop punk vibe, there is a more abrasive side as well. The fun, rip-roaring, guitar and melody works really well with the juxtaposition of edgy, meaningful and thought-provoking lyrical content. I'd give it a listen, and not to just brighten up your day but to ponder on a few things as well.

Stream and download Death In Venice Beach on Bandcamp here.

Like The Bombpops on Facebook here.

This review was written by Chris Bishton.

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