Band : Antillectual
Album title : Start From Scatch
Label : Shield Recordings
Distributor : Shield Recordings – Discos Rayados – Effervescence Records – Infected Records – Lockjaw Records – No Reason Records – 5 Feet Under Records – Destiny Records
Release date : 01/11/2010
Release : CD (also available on vinyl)

I've been fortunate enough to come across this Dutch socio-political Melodic Punk Rock act's previous releases...in fact, reviews of 2008's sophomore album Testimony and the 2008 re-release of the 2005 debut Silencing Civilisation (both issued through Shield Recordings) were posted on 17/04/2008 and 28/01/2009, and are still available for your fact-finding needs on the band's past.

Following the release of their sophomore album, the trio set out on a busy touring schedule, taking in venues all over Europe as well as in the USA, playing support to some of the big names in (socio-politically) engaged) Punk such as Propagandhi, Against Me, Rise Against, The Gaslight Anthem, and Hot Water Music, and generally earning themselves the title of “Hardest working Dutch Punk Band”. Towards the end of 2009 Antillectual went through a line-up change when original bassist & second singer Yvo decided to leave. Luckily, a replacement was readily found in Tom, known as frontman of German Hardcore Punk act Smash the Statues (band with which Antillectual forged a strong bond, playing shows together and even touring in the past). He's had to proove himself quite swiftly too, because in February of this year the guys were back in the studio to record their latest album. As before, the guys ensure a good sound working with Nick van Montfort, whom also mixed and mastered the album. Soundwise, the new 12-track album is very much a continuation of the guys' previous work. In all fairness I need to stress out that while in the first paragraph I simplified the band's music style as a mere “Melodic Punk Rock”, the range of styles the guys draw from is somewhat more elaborate, and includes Punk Rock (evidently), Metal (réally!), Hardcore (yep) and even Emo (but in combination with all of the aforementioned the Emo part is quite acceptable, to me). However, what with the lyrical content, things remain “Melodic Punk Rock” overall! Thanks to their good reputation, the band were able to invite some guests to the album, with Propagandhi's Chris Hannah performing guest vocals on the song “Cut The Ground From Under Our Feet”, and Heleen Tichelaar (of Midnight Menace) lending her vocals to “Buyer's Remorse” and the balladesque album closer “So Much More”.

And that last song's lyrical content really sums up everything this band is about! Oh, forgot to tell: all songs were given ample liner notes, giving the listener (or rather reader) an insight to what inspired the song at had. You can listen to a couple of the album's song (as well as some of the older material) at myspace.com/antillectual (in fact, try the blogs...there's a possibility you can still stream the complete album for your audio pleasure). Well, end conclusion time, right...? When looking deep into my heart, I have to say that Antillectual are currently my favourite socio-political band from this side of Europe, and therefore deserve to be mentioned in my 2010 year-lists...but while I'll admit this is their best album yet, I'm not ready to give the album a perfect rating (because somehow I have a feeling this band can do even better).

93/100

Tony.