Published on May 14, 2003
Here’s one for all you metal-heads and/or skaters out there.
Didn’t think the two genres could mix? CKY crosses that line, and
with class.
CKY, otherwise known as Camp Kill Yourself, has just released
their third album,
Infiltrate, Destroy, Rebuild. This is their most powerful
yet, and has pushed them closer to the front lines of 21st century
hard rock bands.
Many people would argue they’ve only received such hype due to
the connections. Drummer Jess Margera is the older brother of MTV
Jackass star and professional skateboarder Bam Margera. CKY
tunes have been heard on
Jackass since the beginning, and were the basic soundtrack
for Bam Margera’s early homemade movies (also by the same name –
CKY). CKY have also just earned global recognition as the rock band
that opened for Guns’n Roses’ recently disastrous tour. Hand picked
by Axl Rose himself, CKY have certainly had their struggle to
stardom minimized.
Infiltrate, Destroy, Rebuild is a short album, but their
first full length EP that doesn’t double as a soundtrack. The
band’s first two albums were self-titled soundtracks for the movies
of the same name. This, their third, is certainly a step above
creating background filler music for skating videos. Tricky guitar
riffs and power chords inspired by G.G. Allin himself, and
intelligible lyrics that take you from the beginning right to the
end without a hiccup. There’s no jerky noises, no sudden beat
shifts, no drastic vocal style switching. Even the unexpected
synthesized bleeps and samples quickly become a valued part of each
song. This may sound relatively uninteresting and maybe even
boring, but it’s actually quite refreshing to be able to retreat
from some of the new bands of today with unintelligible vocals such
as Slipknot or the Used and to sit back and enjoy pure raw talent
such as CKY.
Out of ten tracks, I can’t say there are any I really dislike.
None could be misconstrued as a filler, and all ten are strong in
their own ways. The final track, “Close Yet Far” really emphasizes
this strength and proves that what is otherwise known as a metal
band has the talent and capability to pull off an emotional track
with a slower beat. This is definitely a song for the ladies.
Watch for CKY touring in your hometown. The
Jackass blood in them has certainly added a flair to their
stage performance. Apart from guitarist and producer Chad Ginsburg
recently breaking his leg and a few ribs jumping over a fence to
sign some autographs for fans after a gig, I’ve heard many stories
of fights breaking out on stage, pranks pulled on one another and a
general haphazard attitude to show that they’re sticking to their
motto of ‘f*CKYou’!!