When members of your band go by Spunk Volcano and Maff Fazzo and your cover art depicts a cartoon on steroids, one might not think your band is to be taken too seriously. Or maybe it's just me, because prior to putting Dirt Box Disco's debut album on, I was halfway expecting a punk rock version of The Insane Clown Posse. Well, I was wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong. Turns out these UK characters play the sort of charged punk 'n' roll that can and does parallel the greatness achieved by Rancid, The Buzzcocks, or Sham 69.
Legends starts off with “The Otherside Of The Street,” an anthemic, fist-pumping rocker that pounds with melody and grabs the listener's attention immediately. It's the perfect way to start off the album – fiery, melodic, and infectious. The following track, “Peepshow,” is just as addictive and would make Greg Graffin (Bad Religion) proud with the harmonic vocal 'aaahs' and driving guitar work. The band makes their influences evident all over this, and not just musically. On “Rock 'n' Rolla,” frontman WEAB.I.AM proclaims his love for Leatherface and The U.K. Subs, two bands that undoubtedly inspired Dirt Box Disco's spirit and intensity.
On a disc where there is no filler, it's pretty hard to distinguish a track that rises above the rest. If I had to choose, “I Don't Wanna Go Out With You” is my current favorite here. It’s a track that reminds me of the almighty UK punk band Snuff flexing their muscles. The buzzing guitars and giant hooks make the pop punk foundation of this song a gritty and visceral couple minutes that I will never tire of.
This disc is a listen that encapsulates several eras of punk since the '70s, from timeless old school punk to '90 pop punk to Ramones-esque lightning fast guitars. Dirt Box Disco has penned a fun, in your face, unapologetic masterpiece. Hands down, this is one of the best albums of 2012.