KRUM BUMS

Crazy about the name I am not, but the music is what matters here. It is definitely better than the name, above average and a rather unique style of street punk with metallic elements – purposeful or not. On the "Same Old Story" EP, Austin, TX's KRUM BUMS deliver 21 minutes of gritty melodic punk that owes a debt to the classic British style, American crossover, and pinches of straight metal and the MISFITS. In other words, it is not too easily categorized, which is generally a good thing.

Right from the acoustic/electric METALLICA-esque intro of "Split Tongue", one senses that something at least marginally different is afoot. Ultimately, the song exemplifies the metal-edged British punk noted above with a dirty street fighting sensibility. Dave Tejas' nasty, snot-injected vocals give the affair a nihilistic touch; though wear a little thin at certain points. A method that employs harmony vocals, occasional gang shouts, and alternating lead vocals works to keep things quite interesting, while the melodies are moderately catchy.

The crossover (with early MAIDEN-esque element on the main riff and a decidedly un-punk lengthy guitar solo) of "Dead New World", the RANCID rowdiness of "Sons of Nothing", and the thrashy punk aggression of "Coliseum" collectively demonstrate KRUM BUMS' smorgasbord approach to punk rock. The quintet tosses in an acoustic outro (with a sprinkling of cello) on "S.O.S." to reinforce the point. For the most part, the approach is a success, just a tad disjointed at times and not always as convincing as it should be. All in all, it would seem that KRUM BUMS are on to something.