Review
Rixe
Coupes et Blessures EP

Well this was bound to happen. With so many hardcore acts flirting with Oi! for the last few years it’s not surprising that somebody finally came out like, fuck it, we’re just going to be an Oi! band. It’s not the first time by any means—there’s been the PDX crusties’ side project Criminal Damage and the Brendan Radigan-fronted Battle Ruins—but here comes Rixe, a trio from Paris, France that absolutely nails it. To the best of my knowledge this is their debut, and I can’t believe I’m going to say this about an Oi! record in the year 2015, but holy shit, it’s totally killer!

Coups et Blessures is a bit removed from the skinhead hardcore sound of, say, 86 Mentality but still rougher around the edges than records by notable contemporary acts like The Shame or Bishops Green. And lest you get confused, I’ll personally come to your house and slap the taste out your mouth faster than you can say “streetpunk.” Make no mistake, this Oi! in the classic sense: a tough, prideful, no-bullshit take on punk rock. There’s no ’77 posturing, watered down guitar riffs, or groan-inducing stupidity here. The bass and guitar tone is out of this world. In fact the production value throughout is awesome. It perfectly captures the band’s rugged, loud outpouring of energy in a way that will have you teetering on the edge of sanity.

While the hook on the first track is a tad bit Oi!-by-the-numbers for me, everything else about this four-song piece of wax is so badass and invigorating that I literally cannot listen to it without having some sort of physical reaction. As anyone that’s read my reviews knows, I listen to a lot of music while riding my bike. When I have this in the earbuds I ride with only one hand because the other one is vigorously pumping a fist in the air.

I probably won’t be pulling the DMs or bomber jacket out of retirement anytime soon, but I can’t deny it; this is a front runner for punk 7” of the year. I almost hate to talk about it because it’s one of those things I’d love to keep all for myself.