The title Punk Rockers In The Dancehall is actually a bit misleading - Goldblade's sound is big enough to transcend the dancehall. On Punk Rockers..., Goldblade has put together a collection of fist-pumping punk rock anthems that could pack punks into arenas.
Strickly Anthems
Punk Rockers... is not new material; it's a stateside compilation of the UK band's greatest anthem-styled songs. Personally, I'm a sucker for anthems, and all-too-often the one or two you get on a punk rock album are the only good tracks. When there are more, it's even better, and when a band decides to compile all their best anthems so far into a compilation, it's a definite winner. The band's choices were solid from start to stop and the energy bursts out from the moment you press play.
Once the album opened with "Strickly Hardcore", I immediately knew I was going to love this album. "Strickly Hardcore" is pure singalong fist-pumping fun, and while it's a tough act to follow, Goldblade does admirably. They continue to keep it going on tracks like "Do You Believe in the Power of Rock 'N' Roll", which shows that the band is no stranger to heavy rock riffs, and "Living Outside the Capitol" which has them paying some serious props to the Ramones with simple punk hooks and a bit of head-bopping fun.
These guys are not afraid to poke fun, either. "Hairstyle" employs a serious amount of disco grooves laid down without a bit of cynicism, and "Glam Rock Star" is full of nice, thick, trashy guitars, a strange amalgamation of street punk and T-Rex.
Punk Rockers In The Dancehall is a great album for Goldblade neophytes living in the states. It's a great introduction, and while it may arguably make owning their other albums non-essential, I think this is a collection strong enough to recruit a U.S. following for the band whether or not they've heard these guys before.
