Is The Eradicator a joke that's been going for 10 years (the band), or for 35 (the skit)?
Does it matter? Well, only in the sense that I question how much material the Kids In The Hall-inspired hardcore band can cull from a 5-minute skit. (Maybe 10 minutes. The character was revived in 2022's Season 6.)
Why do I bring that up? Because, kind of like the KITH return to action, I always enter a new Eradicator record with a little trepidation that it's going to fall off the quality cliff. But, just like the inspirational sketch comedy show, the band The Eradicator continues to bring it.
For those who aren't in the know, think hardcore punk with a bit of Andrew W.K.-style anthems built into the format. It's high energy, angry music with a goofy theme about the sport of squash. It's drenched in ego and, this time around, drenched in sweat too. I'm choosing to highlight the song "My Lucky Stink" first because I think it's indicative of the bigger point. This topic is, well, a stretch from the squash theme -- how Eradicator's body odor affects his game. The joke doesn't really land for me, but the song is still a banger with one of those WK-like big riffs to set the tone for the over-the-top "drip drip drip" refrain. And, since I'm making the comparison, is it really any sillier than "It's Time To Party?" But generally if you're going to do two things (music and comedy) you need both elements to stand on their own. With The Eradicator, it works way more often than it doesn't -- I feel a little harsh calling out this one out.
If you want a quick introduction to the band, "We'll Call It A Default" and "Squash In My Veins" are probably the top choices: big singalong songs that burst with quick, to the point, angry smiles. The other thing I'll highlight on You Can Hate The Eradicator is the drumming. The lead in the title track really sets the tone from the get-go, and "Say No To War, Say No To Golf" absolutely pummels.
