Bigwig - Reclamation

After a five year gap, Bigwig returns to the punk scene with the aptly titled Reclamation, reclaiming fans and territory with this punchy punk return. The band maintains their skate-punk flair and ska tendencies. From fist-pumping anthems to politics, this album ticks all the right boxes. The first track, "War Inside," is old-school thumping drums wailing guitar, and the chorus of “I’ve always sworn, that I won’t conform/ and I refuse to suffer anymore.” The album maintains the guitar/bass/drums feel of good old fashion punk, and lyrics that would satiate any punk. This song is all punk, from the pop-angled "Rat Race," down to the staccato drumming and shouting of "Last Song, Last Call." These are songs that bruise elbows, egos, and ribs. This band, somehow just below the radar (maybe it’s all that time off), also spawned punksters Near Miss. Despite a few changes in the old lineup, Bigwig has hopefully settled into one that's keepable. Less conventionally poppy than previous albums, Reclamation is sure to claim a spot in punk rock hearts everywhere. As long as Bigwig doesn’t leave another big gap between albums. [myspace.com]