New Mexican Disaster Squad

On their full-length debut, the Florida-based quartet, New Mexican Disaster Squad, who had previously split an EP with Destination: Daybreak, kick out the hardcore jams like they were recording for Dischord in 1981. This is straight-up, early '80s-style hardcore with no apparent stylistic influences that date past the time that Black Flag discovered Black Sabbath and weed: terse song structures (two-thirds of the dozen songs are under two minutes each), minimal guitar-bass-drums arrangements, pounding tempos, hoarse shouted vocals — the sort of thing that any Minor Threat or Fear fan will immediately clutch to their chest. Their lyrical stance is best exemplified by the vaguely Queers-like "(If You Don't Have Anything Mean to Say) Don't Say It at All," with the pointed yet funny "F**k the Oscars" exploring a wittier, more sarcastic side to a style of music not always known for its yuks. New Mexican Disaster Squad don't particularly add much to the style, but in a scene where pop-punk and screamo is causing many bands not to look beyond the early '90s for their cultural touchstones, their unfashionable devotion to one of the root forms of punk is heartening.