LA Punks The Bronx have turned the distortion up with this their third (yes third!) eponymously titled record.

Knuckleduster production from David Schiffer (System Of A Down, Rage Against Machine) brings this latest Bronx collection into a rock mainstream without compromising the sound with vapid overlaying. The production ethos strips the songs to a raw core, releasing a car crash impact.

The reason this album is frustrating is because there are some genuinely catchy moments here, tracks like ‘You and Me’ can be imagined as anthemic festival favourites. There is also talent in the vocal melodies, but the lack of imagination and effort in instrumentation, and a production that airbrushes any musical hooks that were present out of the equation entirely results in a record that offers up a non-distinct, edgeless duvet of a sound. It’s like an echo of a good album; all that’s left is the faint impression of good songs desperately in need of body, cutting edge and a relevant decade.

Mudhoney were forerunners of the Seattle scene that exploded globally in the early 90’s. Lead singer Mark Arm’s previous line up incarnations included Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament of Mother Love Bone and Pearl Jam fame, and the band are a direct influence of eventual scene godfather’s Nirvana which led to some explosive double headliner tours.

Whilst Pearl Jam and Nirvana polished up and took the major label careerist route to recognition, Mudhoney remained true to their roots and in so doing so, became underground icons of garden shed musicians everywhere.