Strongarm and the bullies - Demo (2007)

Tracklist:
01. Sail away
02. More than a friend
03. White crosses

A demo that Jared the guitarist sent to me that i had totally missed. All tracks where recorded in 2007 but they are still of current intrest since they are recording and looking for a record deal as we speak and these songs will be on it (if it ever gets released that is).
A bit more rock 'n' roll sound from their earlier stuff even if their early songs all had a r'n'r feeling. Cant really say its Oi! anymore (seriously only 1% of todays Oi! bands actually sounds like Oi!) but as long as Erick blesses the band with his voice (its unique to say the least) they will always have a place on this site.

Sail away is probably the track that reminds most about their old sound but actually my least favourite on the demo (sometimes something just bugs me hehe). Both More than a friend and White crosses are excellent punkrock songs and i really like their matured sound.

If you have any place left on your label then get in contact with these guys and see to it that they expand their discography a bit.
8/10

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Strongarm and the bullies - Demo (2002)

Tracklist:
01. Honor among outcasts
02. Gone
03. Tonight
04. Life down beer

A rare demo from Strongarm and the bullies that resulted in their 2005 release You had it comming.
Ericksons rare vocal ability is as good as on the mastered release. The demo features a song that never made it further then a demorelease called Life down beer. Its a drinkingsong with a damn catchy chorus like in the most of their other songs.
It has been a lot of talk about a new release the last months that is going to feature new versions of their old songs and some new old tracks that never made it to any recordingsession. Lets hope that some recordlabel catches up on this.
8/10

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Strongarm and the bullies - You had it comming (2005)

Tracklist:
01. Back on top
02. A toast
03. Tonight
04. Honor among outcasts
05. Stand up
06. That kind of courage
07. Reflection
08. Gone
09. On all sides
10. Callused
11. Down
12. Realistic
13. The reserves

Released by Rebellion records in 2005.
A very unique band from California consisting of five former marines. One of those bands where a cathegory is hard to set. Its punkrock mixed with Oi!,blues and even a bit HC-downbeat on some occasions. What relly made this band stand out was the singer Erickson J. Barnes which had a voice that i never heard in this genre before. He gives me an early hardrockvibe on some songs which reminds me of Bon Scott's AC/DC.

This is the only real releas eby the band except for a cover of Johnny Cash's "Dont take you guns to town" on the 2006 Dutch dedication album Man in black.
The album has some weak spots but the good ones makes you forget that.
Favourite tracks are Tonight, Realistic, That kind of courage (balladic bluespunk track) & On all sides that makes me question why theres so other few skinhead bands out there testing the boundaries.
Some of the members went on to start the band Johnny Poison & The American Whiskey Runners and even though the band is on ice for the moment there has been talk about recording new material.
8/10

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