Pennywise
"The Fuse"
Epitaph

Another year, another Pennywise record. Another album that sounds just like every other Pennywise record (with the exception of "About Time." Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. Ten years ago, people were bitching when NoFX started playing ska songs, when Bad Religion mellowed out, and when Rancid turned lame. Guess what? Pennywise has never changed. And if you're a diehard Pennywise fan (which I guess is 98% of Pennywise fans nowadays) tradition is all that matters.

"The Fuse" is chock full of adrenaline-fueled rock that makes just about any '90s California hardcore fan long for a time when Epitaph wasn't loaded with a roster of adult contemporary artists (sorry Tom Waits). The best song on here is "Fox TV," a full-on, multi-part harmony punk rock anthem that needs to be listened to over and over again.

Songs rarely climb past the three minute mark, and the guitars never stray from straight up chugga chugga California hardcore. The vocals are perfectly audible and the choruses are extremely catchy. This is Pennywise at their best, even if it does sound like their last half dozen records.

Reviewed by: George Koroneos
Reviewed on: September 23, 2005