Hooligan from Dublin play a brilliant mix of Streetpunk, 77s Punk, Dub/Reggae and their sound is influenced by bands like The Clash ("calling Joe Strummer" is one of the best tribute songs), The Adicts, Pistols up to Cockney Rejects or Undertones and many more... and so there's also an extremely varied album here.
No wonder, because the guys spent their youth in that great time and the cover artwork includes a picture of singer Dave in that decade. "First Offence" contains 12 songs and has some overhits to offer like "No Blacks, no Irish, no dogs", as "The Clash couldn't have done it better. With "Street Punk Hero" there's also lyrically perfidious a cynicism bursting gutter hit and "Gang War", "Cops & Robbers" or "Generation on Fire" capture these wild days with all their riots really authentic. In short, "First Offence" is a real blast and achieves an authenticity that some of today's productions lack with their put-on pathos.
You can hear immediately that there are no beginners at work here, besides scene veteran David Linehan (Voc. / Guit.), Tony Van Frater (Cockney Rejects) on guitar / bass Nicky Buck (Angelic Upstarts) and Paul Slack are on board and the result is top class. 12 tracks!
- Criminal Damage
- StreetPunk Hero
- Calling Joe Strummer
- Punk Rock'N'Roll
- Cops & Robbers
- Gang War
- No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs
- Bastards
- Bandit Country
- Generation On Fire
- A Gang Like Us (Trouble)
- Saturday's Heroes
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