ALBUM REVIEW: Out Of Order – Under The Knife
(Randale Records/Bad Report Records)
Out Of Order are a five-piece street rock ‘n’ roll band from Montreal, Canada, and this is their fifth album.
They play a loud, fast, in-your-face style of anthemic oi-influenced punk rock and roll, and I like them a lot.
Originally hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, they were formed in 2001, and moved to Montreal, Quebec, in 2005.
They have released four albums, a couple of split 7ins and a full length demo, and played hundreds of shows.
They’ve had a change of line-up since their last album, 2020’s Life Sentence (reviewed here).
New line-up
Vocalist Scott Maracle, guitarist Joel Bellemare and drummer Andy Stomper remain present and correct, and are joined by new bassist David ‘DB’ Wilton and guitarist Mickey Barrels.
Happily, changing personnel doesn’t seem to have affected their style at all, as Under The Knife is 10 prime cuts of meaty oi, with Scott’s gruff vocals to the fore as ever.
Things kick off with The Grass Is Greener, one of two singles which trailed the album. It’s a nostalgic look back at good times enjoyed with an old friend, and sets the pace perfectly for what’s to follow.
Stay With Me is a message of support to a loved one who’s struggling, about realising while Saints And Sinners espouses the joy of playing fast, loud punk rock ‘n’ roll.
The title track Under The Knife is about the struggle to survive the daily grind, with the dualling guitars in the mid-section reminding me of no less a band than Thin Lizzy!
Valley Of The Wolves, the lead single, is probably my favourite track here, though that changes with repeated plays. It’s about the gentrification of cities, and how those who can’t afford to join in get left behind.
Another contender is Breonna, which also addresses social inequality, and specifically the case of Breonna Taylor, a young black health worker fatally shot in her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment in 2020 when police forced entry as part of an investigation into drug dealing.
Daybreak, which packs a mighty punch, is another standout, and things come to a close with another love song, Halfway To Nowhere, about finding ‘the one’.
Don’t get the idea that this is dumb three-chord meathead music; far from it. There’s more catchy choruses here than you can shake a stick at, and some damn fine playing too, delivered with power and passion.
If you’re looking for comparisons, Out Of Order remind me of The Drowns, Plizzken, The Terraces and Bishops Green – all of which are very good bands indeed – and this album is well worth adding to your collection. 8/10.
- Out Of Order are heading to Europe shortly, and coming to the UK for Morecambe Punk Festival in November. They’re hoping to play a few more gigs while they’re here – promoters, hit them up on their Facebook page HERE.
In the meantime, Under The Knife is available on CD and vinyl from Randale Records HERE and digitally from the usual outlets.
