If you happen to question what it is you are signing up for when pressing play on RUMKICKS sophomore album Hit a Nerve, the opening track “We are Rumkicks” will be sure to tell you. And no, it’s not just in the lyrics (“We are Rumkicks, f*cking Rumkicks”). The RUMKICKS brand immediately makes its mark through the vibrant drum lead-in, the sharp power chords, and the infectious “Oi! Oi!’s” Yes, “We are Rumkicks” does wonders for introducing the high-energy, all-female punk band from Seoul.
Hit a Nerve did everything for me but ‘hit a nerve’ and instead scratched that itch for classic punk with pointed commentary. At its core, the RUMKICKS second LP continues to boldly confront modern issues while exploring sonic influences of original punk. Songs like “Mosquito fighter” and “Misery” find RUMKICKS singer Jung Yeawon navigating self-doubt, loneliness, and general dread against a backdrop reminiscent of any Sex Pistols and Joan Jett track.
But Hit a Nerve isn’t always straightforward punk rock. The uniqueness of RUMKICKS is their ability to fuse pop influence into their sound without causing a jarring transition from track to track. For instance, “Instant” reminds me of the Nena classic “99 Luftballons” with its poppy rhythm but punk undertones. And I think that is what is most refreshing about Hit a Nerve. “Instant” along with a handful of others throughout the album seem to mirror what a lot of 80’s bands did by blending various sounds but keeping punk energy a priority. There seems to be a lot of new wave, pop, and post-punk happening in these songs and it’s really quite pleasant. Hell, even the closing track “Birthday” opens like it’s an old campfire song before turning up the punk rock elements.
Hit a Nerve is unapologetically energetic, fun, bold, and tight. There’s no reason a punk rock fan shouldn’t like this album. And, lucky for you, it’s streaming everywhere now:
The Indy Review 