It's difficult to compare any band to the mighty legacy of Black Flag, bar almost any era (save for the abhorrent What the..). So when someone reads an album description or PR piece on a band like Power there's going to be some hefty unrealistic expectations. It's one thing to measure up to the sound, but to the quality? Well, that's something on an entirely different level.
Nevertheless, Bremerton, WA hardcore/punk newcomers, and Twelve Gauge signees, Power certainly inspire some eyebrow raising moments that make the comparison appropriate. The crew has been kicking it since their 2010 demo with a sharp edge for bringing pure rage to their jams ala late '70s hardcore/punk attitude. If you start to get the feeling of that you're about to revisit something from First Four Years, you might be. But there's more to it then that.
Heavy Muscle is an album that feels dirty in its own right. Something that's flexing its pecs while making you wonder if it isn't referencing Rollins Band Weight by title alone (if nothing else, for the purposes of weight lifting). Maybe that's stretching it, but Power bring a strong sound. The pure punching starter of “$uck It” is an old school hardcore piece that talks that talk as hard as it walks the walk. The song, addressing debt with two middle fingers up, slides in with a bouncing, trashy guitar lead that only gets more crunch as it goes on. If you remember the party anthems of RZL DZL, you might start having flashbacks.
What makes Power stand out a bit more is that they don't just encompass the old school hardcore/punk sound. The heavier pieces are where Power come into a more modern sound. Phone in the Black Flag or OFF! comparisons all you want, there's plenty of heaviness in the band's repertoire. “Slow Train Coming” melds together something one might find on a Black Sabbath record with Common Enemy. The piece wails at times, feels like it's at a stand still, and then rolls in like a tank. Hell, even the beginning of “L.O.S. (Life of Spite)” shoves in with a slower drive.
There really isn't a piece of Heavy Muscle that isn't enjoyable for hardcore/punk fans. Those that have never enjoyed the genre though won't find themselves won over by the band. If you've never heard the genre though, Power is a fantastic place to start. Do they overall live up to the Black Flag comparisons? In a lot of ways, yes. They've got the old school down to a tee. The record seethes negativity and simultaneously rages with reckless regard. Fans of RZL DZL, Cloak and Dagger, Black Sabbath, and, of course, Black Flag take heed and check this out.
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