Deviates

Just seven seconds into the first track from this disc, the SoCal melodic left coast hardcore band's second, and it becomes pretty easy to figure why they're on Epitaph and count Pennywise among their fans. Drawing inspiration from the 'Wise, Circle Jerks, Bad Religion and early Offspring, Deviates serve up a sweet platter of melodic, street-savvy punk rock in Iron Chef-size portions. Not ground-breakingly original and not gratuitously derivative either, Time is the Distance will establish Deviates as one of the better bands in an already overpopulated genre.