United Defiance

Change The Frequency

Written by: PP on 01/02/2022 00:22:57

United Defiance is a skate punk band from San Francisco specializing in the type of Epitaph and Fat Wreck Chords punk rock that dominated the scene throughout the late 90s and early 2000s. Their third album "Change The Frequency" takes its cues from old material by The Offspring to an extent where just the ya-ya-ya-ya-yaaa's of Dexter Holland are missing on a couple of tracks like "Empty Advice", while also incorporating the brighter and tighter Swedish style into the mix. Think bands like Millencolin, No Fun At All, and the like (see: "Cool Kids Club", for instance).

With additional nods to melodicore giants in No Use For A Name dropped in for good measure, a metaphorical delicious dinner should be served for aging punks like the undersigned to happily devour. After all, the sound on "Change The Frequency" is pretty much identical to our favorite records from the era and then some. But much like our local Copenhagen punks in Uphill Struggle, there are a couple of key issues preventing United Defiance from taking the next step with their sound.

One, the production simply must be better. As it stands now, the expression feels flat thanks to the overpowering vocals drowning the percussion underneath it, leaving the soundscape sounding flat as a result. Two, their vocalist isn't particularly good, which is punk in a way, but unfortunately means he lacks the charisma of the Nikola Sarcevices or Dexter Holland's of this world. Don't get me wrong here: he isn't terrible either. "Sing With Me" and "Cool Kids Club" display a knack for writing a catchy hook that just works in a skate punk realm like this.

With crispier production, who knows how many punk rockers would be turning their heads by now? And what about the Lagwagon-inspired "Sing With Me" - a proper chant along like this one should work wonders live. Still, it pains me to say that "Change The Frequency" desperately needs a face-lift before it can compete in the big leagues.

Download: Cool Kids Club, Empty Advice, Sing With Me
For the fans of: The Offspring, Deviates, No Use For A Name, Millencolin, Useless ID, Chaser
Listen: Facebook

Release date 01.10.2021
Thousand Islands Records

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