14th April 2022

Review: “Paradise” by Doc Hammer

San Diego Hardcore Punks Doc Hammer like to party. We like to party. They want us to go together and make normal situations weird while providing the sensual party rock for the party animal inside of you. Inspired by the likes of Every Time I Die, The Bronx and Rocket For The Crypt their 2019 album “Neon Devil” blew our socks off and so their return after 2021 EP “Final Form” with a quartet of new tracks recorded at Sun Sick Studio seemed like the perfect tonic when it landed on 1st April, the day of fools…

Now comprising Josh Ravin (Vocals), Aleksander D’Avignon (Drums), Clay Word (Guitar), Mike Mulé (Guitar) and Phil Dupasquier (Bass), Doc Hammer were formed from the ashes of Kodiak circa 2015 as a quartet but once they were five the party really started with the outfit wanting to create music both heavy but also energised and fun. Three records down the Hawaiian shirt wearing Hardcore Punks are actually heavier with Ravin having a similar gravelly vocal style to Liam Cormier from Cancer Bats as be rants and raves like a lunatic but instead of rage fueled lyrics, they’re insanely good fun. Opening cut “Shut up, Richard” is essentially an anthemic f*** you to people who drag you down as Ravin screams “I don’t want to get my shit together!” during a whirlwind of East Coast Hardcore style riffs with plenty of swagger, ensuring that this is far from style over substance and wearing those Every Time I Die influences on its sleeve. “Starcrusher” then takes things in a more of a Mosh ‘n Roll direction as something from the Rocket From The Crypt playbook, mixing the styles to create a potent cocktail of the finest order that fuels the fire of their high energy party time sound before “13 Road Dawgz” finds its home neatly between the two with a funky bassline and smoking hot Hardcore Punk riffs a plenty. Its the kind of music that you simply can’t help but crack a smile to while listening as its pure unadulterated fun with no unnecessary over complication and Doc Hammer churn out the feel good hits of the year as the gang chants of “It’ll Just Be A Couple Of Weeks” ring out into the night [7.5/10]

Track Listing