F

On first examination, one may have to double-check the front of F's @#S! to be sure it doesn't say Spinal Tap II: The Punk Rock Years. With song titles like "I Wanna Kill," "Life Sucks," and "We Are the Hate," it's interesting to note that punk's nihilistic attitude, which was its clarion call more than 25 years ago, is now sort of quaint, even amusing.

Courtesy of F

Related Content

• Gene Simmons vs. The World: KISS Frontman's Top Five Feuds
  December 8, 2011
• Gene Simmons' Top Five Sex Tips for Tim Tebow
  January 9, 2012
• Charles Manson, Slipknot, and Other Rock 'N' Roll Boogeymen That Aren't Actually Scary
  October 26, 2011
• The Other F Word at O Cinema through January 22
  January 19, 2012
• Misfits at Culture Room December 3
  December 2, 2010

More About

• Wanna Kill
• Black Sabbath
• Black Flag (Band)
• Rob Tyner
• Punk Rock

You see, this Broward quarter is coming from an era in punk rock that existed before the hardcore uniform of tattoos, black clothing, and shaved heads had elbowed out the DIY spirit that made this type of music such a revitalizing force. Once upon a time there was a fine line between Black Sabbath and Black Flag. F knows this and proudly wears its retro roots like a badge of honor.

Lead vocalist F (from whom the band takes its name) sounds a bit like Rob Tyner from Detroit's protopunk MC5, especially when he sings in the upper range of his voice. F's song lyrics are pretty sophomoric, but true to form in terms of the corner of the genre that it's staked out as its own.

Lyrical content notwithstanding, the band's studio performance is actually quite good, reminiscent of old-school stalwarts like the Dictators, the Dead Boys, Kiss, and early Misfits. There's certainly nothing groundbreaking going on here, but isn't it nice to know there's still someone playing that good old death-punk your parents used to listen to?