On the surface, the perceived lethargy of stoner metal doesn’t seem like a natural match for the reckless energy of punk. But the two genres have been roommates since college and still bunk together regularly. The soundtracks of Jackass and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater mixed them up freely, and bands like Clutch and Fu Manchu have plenty of popularity on both sides of the fence. When I saw Rise Against in March of 2011, they brought Coliseum, who fused stoner, hardcore, and punk into one. So I wasn’t particularly surprised at Bokassa’s self-appointed genre of stoner punk. I was more surprised, and apprehensive, at Lars Ulrich of all people giving them the seal of approval. Do they live up to the high praise of Metallica’s third-best drummer?
If nothing else, the genre descriptor is apt, though anyone hoping for a bucket of garage grime will need to look elsewhere. Bokassa drapes light stoner riffs à la Fu Manchu over a simplistic pop-punk framework. Musically it’s closer to latter-day Rise Against or even Sum 41 than Dead Kennedys or The Exploited. There’s not much gritty DIY in the production either, which is reasonably polished and not too loud, though the snare is a tad aggressive in the mix.1 The result exceeds the term accessible; if rock was still played on the radio, Bokassa wouldn’t feel out of place on an average alternative station. The only disqualifying factor might have been the gruff vocals, a smoother version of Orange Goblin with the occasional gang woah-ohs.
If this description sounds disparaging, you’re not entirely wrong. Bokassa goes straight for the lowest common denominator, eschewing anything cerebral for the sake of easy absorption. But that’s what they’re good at: you’ll know over half the choruses by heart after a single spin, even (or especially) those that are aggressively dumb, like “Gung Ho” or “Straight Edgelord.” For better or worse, this is music made for skate stunt compilation videos and backyard parties that’ll have the neighbors complaining. As such, the best tracks are those with high energy and infectious riffs, and the front half is packed with those. “The Ending Starts Today” fumbles the chorus with some ill-advised mumbling but has otherwise no shortage of spirit, and “Garden of Heathen” (featuring Lou Koller of Sick of it All) is catchier than it has any right to be. The band even tackles January 6th with the fun “Let’s Storm the Capitol.”2
Bokassa does like to mix it up with some slower tunes, though, and that doesn’t always work in their favor. “Gung Ho” is easy to remember but its repetitive mid-pace makes it a slog, and the awkward title track lurches confusingly between different mismatched tones. There are energy drains in the vocal department as well: as the vocals work best when they’re raucous and self-assured, the mood drops whenever the rather lethargic cleans pop up, whether in solo droning intonations or unenthusiastic group whooping. Strangely, despite slowing things down and including lethargic clean vocals for the refrain, the full-blown doom closer “Crush (All Heretics)” does manage to charm. A solid Black Sabbath riff pulls that cart, and the hummed chorus adds a layer of mystery. It’s a weird closer for a stoner punk album, but it does help pull it together at the finish line.
9 out of 10 times I’ll commend a band for attempting to include different moods, angles, and energeticnesses across their album. All Out of Dreams takes a swing at this philosophy, but Bokassa has a very particular set of skills, and flounders whenever they try to spread their wings. It’s not a bad album at all; it’s catchy as hell, and at least half the tracklist is ready to be plundered for party playlists. The tight editing and short duration support the fun factor, and you can do much worse for a quick bout of low-brow punk energy with fuzz. There are just a few too many dings to recommend the entire package with my full throat. If Bokassa tries to switch up fast with even faster next time, we might get better results.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: PCM
Label: Indie Recordings
Websites: bokassaband.bandcamp.com | bokassaband.com | facebook.com/bokassaband
Releases Worldwide: February 16th, 2024
