Unconsciously Confined by The Satanic Surfers (Review)

Although the majority of the recent glut of musical imports from Sweden have been innocent enough, with garage rockers like the Hives and pristine experimental popsters like the Moonbabies adding a little variation to the staid ranks of contemporary popular music, it’s obvious with even a cursory listen to the Satanic Surfers’ latest effort that they aren’t nearly as successful in presenting a slightly different shade in the rock spectrum. Having the reputation for being one of the foremost punk bands operating in Europe (although it’s certainly not obvious why), the Surfers manage to spit back the totality of redundant American punk rock sloganeering and formulaic arrangements with only 13 songs and 25 minutes. In short, it’s not one of the greatest imports to cross the border in recent memory.

In fact, there is absolutely no evidence (other than their names being Fredrik, Mattias, and Magnus) that these guys aren’t just another of the faceless ranks of So-Cal punk bands. Just like Bad Religion and their minions before them, they rail against the evils of democracy, capitalism, and consumerism in the most indefinite terms, with two-part shouted vocals and highly melodic, big energy arrangements falling snugly into the mold of 99% of the punk songs you’ve ever heard. Whether initiating a “revolution against oppression” on “Thoughts, Words, Action” or ordering us up the ladder of enlightenment to “take back what they stole from you” on “More To Life,” you’re never sure exactly what their recommended course of action is for you. But you get the impression that they believe the world is currently in a rather sorry state.

Even more unsettling are the strangely (if not awkwardly) sentimental paeans to the joys of summer (such as the track “Bittersweet,” which features vocalist Rodrigo laughably dubbing himself “a happy pessimist singing a bittersweet serenade”) or the cloying tribute to escaping the rigors of the rock star life to return home to old friends and pecan pie (“Pecan Pie”). Still, as if to undercut all the grandiose rallying cries, there are songs where they admit that they really don’t take themselves that seriously nor expect you to either. This seems like a somewhat conflicting message when mixed with their ostentatious vision and adamant commands to “globalize resistance” to help end poverty in the world.

Don’t get me wrong. The fundamental elements here might be exactly what you’re looking for if you can’t get enough of the catalogues of Fat Wreck Chords or Epitaph. But it’s really somewhat sad to see a Swedish band so completely copy every facet of American punk rock as to be utterly indistinguishable from the already mediocre rank and file of the scene. Overall, they display enough talent but ultimately offer evidence that the majority of it is being squandered in trying to find the sound they think they should have instead of the one they could have if they dropped the posturing.

Written by Matt Fink.