The Old Firm Casuals – Holger Danske

Demons Run Amok Entertainment / Pirates Press Records

 

Time sure seems to fly, as it's already been five years since The Old Firm Casuals released their debut full-length “This Means War”! Sure, a couple of releases have surfaced since then – including the killer “Wartime Rock ‘N’ Roll” 12” and a ditto split single with NYHC legends Sheer Terror – but not nearly as much as Lars and his Casuals releases prior to their first LP.

 

Quality over quantity? I'll leave that up to you, because despite that the lo-fi sound of the band's very first EP left me puzzled for a while, I’ve honestly liked every record these guys put out – and as you know, there are a lot of them! With that being said, The Old Firm Casuals still become stronger with every release. Especially since the addition of second guitarist Gabe Gavriloff - of the mighty Sydney Ducks there seems to be a whole lot more going on and all for the good, with the aforementioned 12”, split single and the “A Butchers Banquet” 12” as a result.

 

“Holger Danske” is the first full-length release as a four-piece outfit and therefor my expectations were high, perhaps higher as with “This Means War”. But right after the horns called for – yet another – war, these expectations are fulfilled with “Get Out Of Our Way”, a fast, raging ripper with bassist Casey and his mean gnarl on lead-vocals! Followed up by the massive “Motherland”, we can instantly check off the first anthem of The Old Firm Casuals’ sophomore album, all with Lars Frederiksen's raspy, killer vocals – love it! Though I do have to note that Denmark isn't as cold as the lyrics try to illustrate – the climate is pretty mild actually – but a big, boisterous track nonetheless!

 

Another big one – and most likely my favorite of them all – is title-track “Holger Danske”. Rolling in after the short, instrumental “De Ensomme Ulve”, this five-minute scorcher dedicated to Lars’ late uncle Viggo Sørensen pretty much contains everything you love (and sure, some hate) about The Old Firm Casuals from striking melodies to glorious back-up vocals, and superb keys (both organ and piano) by Kevin Bivona of The Interrupters. Yes, this is indeed my favorite song of them all.

 

Basically this is also the whole album in a nutshell – or a shitty review, whatever you please. Short, fierce and more hardcore influenced stompers take turns with longer – sometimes much longer – streetpunk anthems that will have you singing along in no-time! But in the end it's all ‘Casual Rock ‘n’ Roll’, it rips and it's yet again an absolute must-have for fans of this Californian powerhouse!