V/A – Broken Bonez III / 2006 Broken Bonez / 20 Tracks / http://www.brokenbonezrecords.net / Reviewed 12 January 2006

This version of Broken Bonez has tracks 20 from 11 bands, some of which are familiar to fans of Broken Bonez records (Fixed Idea, Ambivalent, Hotrod Boogie), and some new acts (Hate Is Just a Feeling, Whores 4 War, Skarnales, and Suburban Lockdown). There is even a track from the very established D.E.K., who end the disc with their track “Catnapper”. While I was not familiar with Hate is Just a Feeling, the effort that they make on “Finders Keepers” is very strong. The track keeps individuals involved with the disc, while tying together the disparate elements of rockabilly and Misfits-like conceptions of punk rock.

Their second track is “Someone Somewhere”, and is nearly twice as long as “Finders Keepers”. The distortion of the guitar seems to be of the style that many punk tracks have had over the years, but Hate is Just a Feeling keep their stock up with a chorus that has a high amount of harmony present. The production value of Whores 4 War’s “Take Place” is pretty rough, but the talent that they show during this track is without debate. There are hints of The Replacements and Husker Du along with Unwritten Law and Face To Face all in a sub-1:45 track. To hear Whores 4 War get into a good studio would be my wish for all of these bands on this album. The band could easily match wits with both None More Black and Latterman, and perhaps even go over them in regards to the sheer catchiness and energy which they bring to the two tracks on this album.

The Frankenhookers are reminiscent of Retching Red, with a female-led set of vocals tied to both metal and thrash influenced punk rock. The result is something loud and obnoxious, and something that would fit in perfectly with the early eighties. Rockabilly comes back again during Skarnales’ “El Tiburon’. The track has a lot of Reverend Horton Heat influence to it, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The track has a high amount of repetition to it, but Skarnales are intelligent enough to go forth and vary their efforts to keep individuals interested. Broken Bones III has a number of bands that are new to fans of the Brken Bonez family, and will undoubtedly have a few bands that typical punk rock fans will not know, or will not know much of. I know I will be waiting for the next Broken Bonez compilation, to get my fix of a lot of punk from the southwest.

Top Tracks: Hate is Just a Feeling / Finders Keepers , Brown Paper Bag / The Logic

Rating: 6.2/10

[JMcQ]