Review / 200 Words Or Less
The Cancer Kids
The Possible Dream

Youth Attack (2006) Michael

The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream cover artwork
The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream — Youth Attack, 2006

The Cancer Kids call Massachusetts home. But unlike many of the artists from the state, they don't play tough-guy hardcore of Death Before Dishonor or over-the-top melodic hardcore of Have Heart. Instead The Cancer Kids opt for fast-paced hardcore punk with hints of technical flare and grindcore. If you put Infest, The Dillinger Escape Plan's first EP, and Black Flag into a blender, you might come out with something close to what The Cancer Kids have to offer.

The Possible Dream features nineteen songs from a writing session that numbered more than fifty songs. The songs are filled with gritty production to the fast-paced numbers the result is rocking tunes of great intensity. Lyrically the songs are pretty off the wall but humorous. My favorite come from the song "Q & A:"

Early eighties hardcore means nothing to me / The only bandana I knew was on Punky Brewster's knee

Because I was born in '78 I was more concerned with walking that "Smash the State"

Screw Pushead, I'll take Crayolas any day / Punk began with The Pist anyway.

The Possible Dream is an average offering from a now defunct group of fellows. What they did, they did fairly well, but was nothing worth going crazy for. Although, they did write a song about Beverly Hills 90210, so they get bonus points for that.

6.0 / 10Michael • September 26, 2007

The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream cover artwork
The Cancer Kids – The Possible Dream — Youth Attack, 2006

Recently-posted album reviews

The Phase Problem

The Power Of Positive Thinking
Brassneck Records (2024)

I spent a good part of the late ‘90s annoyed at the abundance of Ramonescore. I’ll stand by my word: many of the bands of that era were carbon copies that didn’t bring anything new to the format. But time has passed and what was overdone is now a refreshing change of pace. For whatever reason, when I hear a … Read more

Totally Slow

The Darkness Intercepts
Refresh Records (2024)

I find Totally Slow a hard band to categorize. Their brand of melodic, hard punk is familiar and comforting -- rooted in ‘80s hardcore, ‘90s skatepunk, and post-something guitar-driven rock. The press release namedrops Dag Nasty and Hot Snakes, among others, which I think are good starting points. But while it’s familiar, it’s absolutely not a carbon copy. Like their forebearers, the songs … Read more

Steamachine

City of Death
Records Workshop (2023)

City Of Death is the third album from Polish noise makers Steamachine. Having dabbled in a few metal styles over their career, City Of Death has a heavy carnival influence to it which I have to say I really like. It's interesting just how much more sinister things sound when you pump eerie, jingly circus sounds amongst very dark, heavy, … Read more