Okinawa Plane Crash, a four-piece DIY punk band from Phoenix, takes their explosive sound to new heights with their third album, Wizards of the West Side. This 11-track offering captures the band’s raw energy, blending nu-metal grit with garage rock fervor. True to their mission, the album delivers an authentic, live-show feel, packed with hijinks, social commentary, and plenty of opportunities to dance your frustrations away.
The album kicks off with “Machete,” a raucous track that imagines Billie Eilish abandoning fame in a slasher fantasy. The vivid storytelling and chaotic instrumentation set the tone for the journey ahead, equal parts thrilling and unpredictable. Tracks like “Heat Death” and “Massacre on Wall Street” pivot to sharp social critiques, reflecting on climate change and corporate greed with unflinching intensity. However, the Okinawa Plane Crash doesn’t linger in darkness for long, embracing Dadaist absurdity as a counterweight to the heaviness of modern life.
Wizards of the West Side pulls from an eclectic pool of influences, including Pentagram, System of a Down, Slayer, and even the funk-metal stylings of Living Colour. This mix of different influences is clear in songs like “Feral Angels” and “Western Shogun,” where complex guitar parts meet strong, surprising beats. The band’s skill in switching between deep topics and playful humor keeps things exciting all the time.
What makes this album special is its strong dedication to a do-it-yourself approach. Recorded live in June 2024, it keeps a raw, real feel that’s hard to find in today’s overly polished music scene. Okinawa Plane Crash invites listeners to embrace imperfection, lean into chaos, and most importantly, have fun.
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