Claymore – Crime Pays!

Crossbar Records

 

Straight out of Oakland, CA comes Claymore – an all new four piece that started out a few years ago and who now finally unleashed their debut “Crime Pays!” on LP! Released by Crossbar Records, this slab of wax comes on either black or oxblood red vinyl and is an absolute surprise from the front to the back!

 

Because despite that the cover artwork is ludicrously overblown (I do like it though), the sound of these streetwise ruffians seems genuine, rock solid and street savvy to boot! With eleven tracks total, these Californian villains deliver a criminally good mix of rough and ready, no-nonsense Oi! and battle hardened rock ‘n’ roll for skins and thugs alike!

 

The recordings sound somewhat raw-ish (or better put, not overproduced) and severely dangerous, making sure Claymore delivers one hit (and run) after another! But I’ll admit it, I was a bit on the fence when I first heard opener “To The End”, but I easily turned and now I can’t get enough of this record! “Oi! Is The Drug”, “City Of The Dead”, “Ruffians”, “Urubu”, “Riddle Of Steel” and “The 5th Man” (“Oi! Oi! Snitch, get your face cut!”) - love it!

 

Now I’ve never broken the omerta before, but for Claymore’s “Crime Pays!” I’ll gladly make an exception! Check Oakland’s most wanted out now!