Murder

Personnel: Chris Prohom, Dave Gregg (vocals, guitar); Jon Card (vocals, drums); Joey Keithley, Sunny Boy Roy (vocals).
Recording information: Profile Studios, Vancouver, BC.
Photographer: Karen Lee Plessner.
By the time of this 1990 release, D.O.A. was quite a distance from their peak '80s form. The best years were behind them, for sure, but the Canadian punkers still had plenty left to say. Sonically, there's nothing surprising about Murder. The songs are perhaps a little more political than most of their '80s issue material, but only voracious lyric-readers will notice the difference. Highlights include the rambunctious "The Agony and the Ecstasy" and a truly sinister cover version of "The Midnight Special" that is probably the record's best cut. The world of hardcore had already witnessed several generational shifts before this Restless Records offering hit the streets, and even more new artists were waiting on deck, as the punk landscape would quickly become overcrowded with bands who might not even have heard of D.O.A.. In such a competitive climate, it's good to know that this traditional punk outfit had the courage to stick to their early format so many years after their commercial heyday. Definitely not an essential recording, Murder still rates high among D.O.A. fans, but listeners new to the group should avoid this one. ~ Vincent Jeffries