White Drugs Records Punk Rock The sharp, stabbing psycho looping guitars on The Bronx’s “III” album opener, “Knifeman” would have Alfred Hitchcock and 1984’s George Orwell smiling. With lyrics that pierce deep into the monotonous machine and a building of suspenseful intensity are harnessed by an unforgiving chorus. That’s track one, and we’re just getting started. Lead singer Matt Caughthran has a delivery that is shockingly forceful yet melodically appeasing. This is punk rock, not punk-lite. “Past Lives” carries the same ambulence urgency: drums for a steady heartbeat, off-chord strumming for breathing and optimisticly demanding vocals. “If I die before my time, please say my body gave out before my mind.” These lines stick with you. The go-for-it attitude is apparent on numerous tracks. “Pleasure Seekers,” “Six Days a Week” and “Ships In Transient” hold the same, grab-it-while-you-got-it feel. The hit for corporate-friendly radio would be “YoungBloods,” a bigger than life anthem, made raw by The Bronx’s talent for capturing a spirit in real time. “Minutes in Night” starts with a cannonball drum, rolling down the barrel, fuse lit. Then it explodes into vocals. After listening to this album, you’ll feel your adrenaline pumping. This is a band at its best.