Pennywise - From the Ashes (2003)

Tracklist
1. Now I know
2. God save the USA
3. Something to change
4. Waiting
5. Salvation
6. Look who you are
7. Falling down
8. Holiday in the sun
9. This is only a test
10. Punch drunk
11. Rise up
12. Yesterdays
13. Change my mind
14. Judgement day

With their eighth album, FROM THE ASHES, Pennywise continues down the same uncompromising and rebellious path that found them snubbing major labels back in the mid-1990s, when peers like Green Day, Offspring, and Bad Religion were hopping aboard the gravy train. With Byron McMackin and Randy Bradbury providing jackhammer rhythms and guitarist Fletcher Dragge firing off machine gun riffs, vocalist Jim Lindberg aims his crosshairs at plenty of political and social issues. "God Save the USA" finds Lindberg having a chat with the big guy in the sky and eviscerating a number of right-leaning demagogues including the CIA, NRA, and President Bush, while "Look Who You Are" hammers at apathy amidst the conservative atmosphere of 2003. Boredom ("Something to Change"), nostalgia ("Yesterdays"), and cynicism ("Judgement Day") are all topics addressed with the kind of focused, melodic fury that's manna to anyone who likes it hard, fast, and smart. Unbowed and opinionated, Pennywise uses FROM THE ASHES to affirm the concept that politically conscious punk remains alive and well. Fans curious to see how the band comes off on celluloid get the benefit of a bonus DVD that warns of "stunts that neither you nor your dumb buddies should attempt."