Criminal Outfit – Time To Get Crucial

Try And Stop Me Records/LSM Vinyl

 

Only a year after the band’s debut 10” “A Million Saturdays” LA’s most wanted Criminal Outfit are back with an all new release! Released on either black wax or half red half orange vinyl with black and white splatter and housed in a colorful sleeve with killer artwork by Mick Lambrou, Try And Stop Me Records and LSM Vinyl definitely made sure this release is not just crucial, but an absolute looker as well!

 

Titled “Time To Get Crucial”, Criminal Outfit’s latest slab of wax (which was actually released much much earlier this year) holds a total of four tracks, including two brand new bangers, a re-recording of the title-track and a killer cover of The Strike’s “Skinhead”! Especially when you compare the original demo recording of the song “Time To Get Crucial” to this EP version you can hear how much the band’s sound has evolved. Now don’t get me wrong, I liked the demo and its Vulture Rock Records’ (Boot Party/Soldier 76) kind of vibe a lot, but I also love the sheer power of this EP!

 

The band doesn’t just display its strong, significantly uptempo sound in the aforementioned title-track and cover, but also in the two brand new anthems it brings to the table! Named “No Respect” and “My Own Prophecy”, Criminal Outfit sounds like Toughskins or a Californian version of the Fatskins that gets buff on Muscle Beach and kicking ass while doing so! The music’s powerful, the vocals are gnarling mean and the gang vocals are massive – just the way you and me like it!

 

As said, this has been out for a while – since January (2022) actually – but if you don’t got yourself a copy just yet just remember… it’s never too late get crucial! So if you like Criminal Outfit’s previous work or any of the band’s mentioned in this review you can’t go wrong with this killer 45!