Band : Generation 84
Album title : Generation 84
Label : Funtime Records
Distributor : Suburban
Release date : 2010
Release : MCD

Although this is a very young Belgian Melodic Punk band as such, the band's members (singer Teun, guitarist Web, guitarist/ backing singer Hakke, bassist Wombat, and drummer Bakker) carry a wealth of experiences from the Punk Rock & Hardcore bands (including Break Of Day, Not That Straight, and Victims Of Society...to name but a few of the acts on these guys' curriculums) they come from or have played in, something which one hears immediately when giving the 6-track mini-album its first listening session!

Indeed, each and every composition has been given decent attention for detail, not only in the build-up of the songs, but also in the ice little extras the guitarists and singers put into it, without loosing sight of the overall melodic aspect of their music. But don't let that hunger for melody fool you...because this is no Fun Punk band! Nah, the guys apparently came together because of their disgust at how, over the years, Punk Rockers geared away more and more from the old values...in fact these days has been turned into an entertainment business conceived for kids who look up at the latest TV shows of fashion magazines as live's guidelines. With their new band, the guys wanted to break away from that “Generation '84”, push out some meaningful messages out there! There's some socio-political criticism in the album's opener “Colonist” certainly this applies to the Israeli/ Palestine situation, right – by the way, the opening sequence is Anthony Hopkins' narrative from the young Mel Gibson starred movie Gallipoli, if my memory hasn't failed me), but also a finger pointing towards the kids whom don't show their own elders the respect they deserve in the album closing “Guidelines”. Brought in a ballad form, that one should hit home quite effectively. Then again...would it really make an impact on most Punk Rock value-raised youth? And...are those who've already gone over the bend really retrievable for the Good Cause? I reserve the right to keep my opinion to myself, but I obviously have doubts!

Nevertheless, a valiant effort to try and make a difference from this band of motivated musicians! At the moment, only one song is posted at myspace.com/generation84. To hear more, you may have to either buy the album, or go to one of the band's future shows (Leuven Punks can go see the band at Sojo on Nov. 28, for instance, and I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to go see the band – check out their MySpace from time to time).

83/100

Tony.