The band since ‘Hidden World’ but particularly now, have always been critically praised, (I read that ‘Chem Chom’ is one of the highest rated albums of the year according to Metacritic) and its easy to see why, they’re incredibly independent which is refreshing in the current musical climate, they remind people of old British rock bands (i.e; The Who, The Clash) and yet constantly push things forward (let alone the wonderful artwork they always produce). The thing is, nearly every review I’ve read of a FU record has, in my opinion, missed the point of FU. What's funny is how much of a big deal people try to make about how "shocking" or "heavy" FU are, when to me they're just a bunch or regular guys and girl, and yet all they're doing is putting a new spin to at least music who's age ranges from 15 to 40 years old.

Reviews I read seem to try and make all of this seem new and massively daring, and while there are elements that certainly are (come on, this must be the first clarinet-opened punk record) and just the fact that the songs (more on Hidden World than this) are generally so long in length, but I mean, its not like Black Flag ever did things like that. In all honesty, this band are just doing things in a very similar order to their heroes; they music and their mindset is one that is based in the past, to a time where music was more sacred, I guess because they're all pretty old now (they've been going since 2001)

But it's not just Black Flag (and their peers) who are the only reference point. As much of an interesting and exciting band they were, it would be dull if that's all this band were about. As usual, on their latest tour I had a chat with the band about music and things, and the vocalist Damien Abraham said that 'Sonic Youth was my first really major band' as well as during the set making a half-joke about the band ripping off My Bloody Valentine. And now that it's been said, I can hear both those bands, very subtly in Fucked Up's music. It seems, theirs is a sound and an ideal that is rooted and perhaps belongs in the early 90's when all of this had happened, but it's not, it's 2008 and its as if those 15 years never happened. To an amazing effect.

'Hidden World' was and still is an incredible record because it did things to punk music not yet dared but perhaps should always have been. Where Black Flag did their best, no one else has even thought to push punk forward in new exciting ways, (in this case, my making long proggy songs - like The Who - and then make musical soundscapes like My Bloody Valentine) and on this new record, the band sees their music go in a more "Rock" direction than a Punk one, presumably because Punk, they felt, had been done. Therefore, the songs are shorter, but no less inventive which makes the whole thing a lot easier to digest. The evidence of 'Hidden World''s style still exists though as both the Opening and Closing of this record; 'Son the Father' & 'The Chemistry of Common Life' respectively are the long and huge punk songs we've come to expect from Fucked Up.

The main bulk of the record, however, does show a progression in sound as they go for even more eclectic influences to throw in their sound. 'Magic Word' with all its bongo wig-outs and rhythmic beats has a 'Year of the Pig' air about it, whereas 'No Epiphany' and 'Royal Swan' both take psychedelic reference points to create creepy, slow burning tracks. The album can do crushing too, as 'Days of Last' and the incredible 'Crooked Head' both prove, as they are startlingly heavy yet melodic (something the band have more or less perfected now). Even when the band go for the more obvious, they succeed. 'Black Albino Bones' with its addition of Dallas Green of Alexisonfire's crooning threatens to undermine the entire record but somehow still comes out of it looking great, while 'Twice Born' is, at worst, a generic two-step hardcore song, and at best a complete anti-anthem.

So, although for me personally (and I'm sure I'm not alone) people who got into this band at 'Hidden World' or even 'Epic in Minutes', while may not necessarily take this as a slap in the face, its going to be hard to detach from or better those records, the point, is that Fucked Up, despite the hype, despite the pressure, despite the quality have managed to, yet again, release a fantastic album that both stands up to their earlier work, and is head and shoulders over 90% of all other music around just now. Will it win any end of year awards? only if this is people's first time out with the band, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that, Fucked Up, are still, one of the most exiting acts out there and it reflects in their music and the fact that, they're starting to break the mainstream, safe in the knowledge that they can't ever get too hyped or egotistical; bar a name change anyway.