Cerebral Ballzy ensures that punk's not dead

Punk bands that solidified the hardcore movement, like Black Flag and Minor Threat, may have hit their stride in the 1980s, but Cerebral Ballzy has ensured that questioning authority and kicking ass aren’t things of the past.  

Members of Cerebral Ballzy
(photo courtesy: Afro Punk)

The Brooklyn-based five-piece has succeeded in attracting an underground following of seemingly belligerent punks that are looking to get trashed, flip up their flat bills, and swing some fists at the establishment.

Undeniably, those are the makings of a good time and Cerebral Ballzy delivers on all accounts.

Cerebral Ballzy formed in 2008 and have readily proclaimed their love for 80s punk, drawing inspiration from the likes of Circle Jerks, Bad Brains, and of course, Black Flag. The band’s approach is apparent in its self titled album, utilizing the same brutal delivery that defined the hardcore genre.  

Lead singer Honor Titus shouts and slurs his way through the tracks, demanding attention and making it feel as though he’s grabbed you by the shoulders and delivered every single line directly in your face.

The self titled record, released earlier this year, stays true to the punk composition, with songs that are hard hitting and rarely exceed two minutes, which is great if you’ve got a short attention span and couldn’t be bothered to wait through a 45 second intro before there’s anything worth listening to.

Lead singer Honor Titus delivers some vocals
(photo courtesy: This Is Not a Photograph)

While Cerebral Ballzy’s style undeniably draws upon the manner of hardcore punk’s heavy hitters, its musicality isn’t completely stripped down to the basics; the heavier layering of riffs builds a deeper and more constructed sound, which ultimately distinguishes the band from merely being an homage act to the 1980s.  

Lyrics like “Tired of your gimmicks/And we’re tired of your images/Tired of your messages/And we’re tired of your influence,” make Cerebral Ballzy’s middle finger to society pretty apparent. 

But unlike their old school counterparts, they never definitively take any political or societal position, which definitely strays from the underlying goal of the punk movement.

Sure, they find the establishment to be a downer, but their main concern is being able to party and tear things up without having to face the consequences. And a philosophy like that is pretty hard to argue with.

If you're looking for an album that's fast paced and hard hitting with tracks that don't last longer than a red light at an intersection, Cerebral Ballzy definitely caters to those needs and doesn't disappoint with its revived brand of hardcore that gives a well deserved shout out to the greats.

Check out Cerebral Ballzy's "Don't Tell Me What To Do" below!

 You can stream their full, self titled album here on Revolver's website and pick up a copy here!