MxPx - Secret Weapon

Toothandnail records . release date: 2007/07/17 . written by Oliver

I was always a great MxPx fan and I obeyed their career from the beginning until now. Who might have guessed that a Punk band, that once got signed to a major label (A&M/Universal records) returns to their roots where everything begun. MxPx is around now for over ten years and they started out in the 90´s on Toothandnail. Their records always contained breathtaking energy and stunning refrains. After MxPx got out of contract with A&M they got signed Fat Wreck and later on to Sideonedummy and released "Panic" - a boring record in my opinion. I lost pretty much interest in MxPx, when that record came out. I was depressed, because I was missing the superfast melody-core songs, that I once found on "Life In General" or "Teenage Politics". These records once gave me a blast. In 2006 the band released and re-recorded a few songs and put out a compilation, called "Let´s Rock" on Sideonedummy. And well, so they started to gain my attention again. In 2007 MxPx decided to start working with Toothandnail again. I was wondering, what the record might sound like. Honestly, I expected nothing spectacular - but I was wrong. "Secret Weapon" is a killer maschine, with 16 new songs on. The songs vary between midtempo-, fast- and superfast styles. MxPx has really put out a Secret Weapon. The new songs contain so much power and energy. At least the refrains are more then breathtaking. To be honest here: I finally feel reminded to "Life In General" and "Teenage Politics". Finally the "MxPx-feeling" has returned and I´m getting in such a good mood, when I listen to the songs. "Secret Weapon" finally contains slamming hits, with a huge sing-a-long factor, like "Top Of The Charts", which sounds like a movie song. My favourite song is called "Chop Shop" - a pretty agressive tune, with shouting vocals and some sirens in the back, kept in a mid-tempo manner. "Bass So Low" is another stunning song, with a great guitar- and bass solo on. Mike Herrera (voc/bass) really shows his skills here. There are a few super-fast songs to find on the record, like "Never Better Than Now" or "Drowning". These songs have the same potential like "My Mom Still Cleans My Room" from the 1996 release "Life In General". To me MxPx have found their route again and play the music, that everyone expect from them.

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Rank: 5 out of 5

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