Crocodiles

***Crocodiles return with a new album of infectious power-punk-pop. Ten direct three-minute blasts of rock n' roll, from straight-up punk-pop anthems ("Love Beyond The Grave") to mutant garage-rock ("Surfing With Death"), infectious fuzz-pop ("Forever Walk Alone"), dancefloor ready bangers ("Deadbeat") and even hardcore death-rock ("Rock'n'Roll Graveyard"), Crocodiles, the nucleus of Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell, return with a new album of infectious power-punk-pop. Over the years, the band have shifted and transformed, but they always kept their ear for pure pop abandon, great hooks, and harmonies, wrapped up in the crunch and verve of garage-punk. Like the surging power-pop scene that is coming out of the USA these days, they are indebted to The Ramones, Buzzcocks, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, all filtered through shoegaze, noisy pop and the '90s California sound.