The Humpers achieve 'Euphoria'

Their third release for Epitaph, "Euphoria, Confusion, Anger and Remorse" is just like any other Humpers record: loud, aggravating, kick-in-the-head punk rock. This is a band that, like fine wine, only gets better with age.

The album title is about the four stages that someone goes through when drinking, and subjects covered in the record's 12 tracks include not only getting drunk, but sex, fun and good old angst.

Like "Live Forever or Die Trying" and "Plastique Valentine" before it, "Euphoria" is full of the raw energy and shredding guitar solos that make the Humpers the perfect punks that they are.

"Steel Toed Sneakers," the band's anthem to getting kicked in the head, opens the record. Barked lyrics, power chords and screamed backing vocals make the track, and the album, for that matter, brilliant. Scott "Deluxe" Drake, lead vocalist for the band, once again has done an excellent job of capturing the spirit of his music with the perfect words and singing style.

Tracks to watch out for include "Peggy Sue Got Buried," "Devil's Magic Pants," "No Escape" and "Kaiser Bill." "Peggy Sue Got Buried" includes a saxophone and piano that give the song an enlivening '50s flair. Each of the others has a chorus that you're destined to pick up on first listen, and will never be able to forget.

This is the kind of music that your parents, actually, most everyone but old-school punks will hate. The Humpers new record makes you think, "Damn, they're so bad, they're good."

This is not a complex record full of pretty pictures and love songs. There are no ballads or weepy lyrics to cry along with.

And this certainly isn't a record that you're going to listen to with that special someone. The concept is simple and eloquent: five greasy guys rocking the way that punk was meant to.

04-21-98