Hailing from foggy San Francisco, Culture Abuse have hit the ground running with their debut LP Peach. Teaming up with 6131 Records and Nu-Tone Studios’ Scott Goodrich, Culture Abuse mix a complex, yet charming cocktail of punk angst and melodic sing-alongs to follow up their 2015 EP Spray Paint the Dog.

Culture Abuse have an uncanny knack for keeping you guessing, strutting effortlessly between fuzzy garage-rock riffs, pop-melody and their undeniable hardcore, SoCal punk roots. Album opener ‘Chinatown’ is no exception; summing up the records positive DIY attitude with a combination of gnarled garage-rock hooks and a power-pop worthy chorus.

‘Peace on Earth’ delivers another dose of punk realism, an anthem for anyone trying to do their best in the face of adversity, it falls perfectly into ‘Turn it Off’. Arguably the most dynamic track on the record, ‘Turn it Off’ flies between rapid power chords and angst filled vocals, before bassist Shane Plitt and drummer Ross Traver drop a dub inspired bridge worthy of Joe Strummer. ‘Heavy Love’ polishes it all off, packed with lethargic guitar melodies and dreamlike vocals, Culture Abuse wind things down, easing you into the fact this effortlessly cool debut LP is sadly over.

You could waste your time trying to put a pin in Culture Abuse, or you could just embrace the undeniable fun, bravado and likeability they’ve offered up in the form of Peach. With a medley of to-the-point lyrical themes and an unbreakable sense of twisted optimism, Culture Abuse have delivered a record which captures the essence of punk, bay area psychedelic rock and everything in-between. Peach will undoubtedly be the anthem to my – and many others, summer.

FFO – Title Fight, Rancid, Wavves, The Story So Far, Supercrush, Creative Adult, Gnarwolves

Track list – Peach:

1. Chinatown
2. Jealous
3. Dream On
4. Rainy Days
5. Don’t Worry
6. Peace on Earth
7. Turn It Off
8. Living in the City
9. Yuckies
10. Heavy Love

Culture Abuse: Facebook / Twitter / Order Peach

Written by Alfie Nobes