RANCID Vinyl & CDs

Review: Originally released in 2008, the B Sides & C Sides compilation would mark the first new release of any sort from California punk legends Rancid following their hiatus in 2004, whilst re-establishing momentum for the following year's true return to form Let The Dominoes Fall. Made up of a bevvy of B-sides spanning from 1992 to 2004, as well as previously unreleased cuts from studio recording sessions of 1998's Life Won't Wait, contributions to film soundtracks and compilations for labels such as Epitaph and Kill Rock Stars, this collection is a fanboy completionist's dream, with these slept on cuts finally arriving back on wax courtesy of the beautiful folks over at Pirates Press.

Review: Serving as a self-analysed response to 1998's ska and reggae-oriented Life Won't Wait, as well as growing criticisms that the band were slowly morphing into some form of Diet The Clash, punk legends Rancid would come to cave skulls at the turn of the new millennium with their second self-titled LP (after their 1993 debut), with many fans referring to the project as Rancid (2000) or simply Rancid 5. Reuniting with Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion to handle production duties (a collaborative role he has maintained with the group ever since), the project easily serves as the most aggressive offering in their entire catalogue, drawing on elements of hardcore and Oi! and imbuing them into their established ska-punk formula, moving far away from any Clash comparisons, and sharing more of a sonic kinship with the type of aggy, scuzzy, brassless hardcore ska of Choking Victim. At 22 tracks spread out over a near-40 minute runtime, you do the chaotic math.

Review: Originally released in 2003 and now celebrating its 20-year anniversary, Indestructible served as the sixth full-length from punk legends Rancid. While initially criticised upon release due to the "poppier" sound certain fans took umbrage with, time has grown kind to the project which boasts some of the most personal penmanship from primary songwriter Tim Armstrong (of Operation Ivy), delving into his divorce from The Distillers' Brody Dalle (now divorcing Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age), as well paying homage to two influential heroes who died during the recording process: Joey Ramone and Joe Strummer, with the latter even being mentioned in the title-track. Known to be the final album with original drummer Brett Reed, and even featuring one of the most underappreciated cuts in their catalogue with closer 'Otherside', written by guitarist Lars Frederiksen about his brother Robert who tragically passed away two years prior, Indestructible deserves your reappraisal as it's slowly become the forgotten gem in the Rancid crown.

Review: Bay Area punk legends Rancid are back, finally. Tomorrow Never Comes arrives six years after Trouble Maker, marking the longest gap between albums the veterans have ever managed since they kicked off in 1991. Of course there's a degree of expectation around a Rancid album, and all you need to do is stick on the first title track and you'll know you're getting the full hit. This is Rancid at their fist-shaking, shit-kicking best, with Armstrong and Frederiksen sounding as vital as they did on And Out Come The Wolves. Clocking in at 16 tracks in 28 minutes it's also their shortest album to date. Say everything you need to in less than two minutes - it's the Rancid way!