PunkNews.org

If Smartbomb’s nine-song, 12-minute debut Chaos and Lawlessness was the band’s newborn infant (kicking, screaming and refusing to calm down), their full-length followup Diamond Heist is its toddler older brother. Though not too far separated, the older brother is more constructive, slightly more disciplined and knows a few more tricks. He is, however, still prone to bouts of unrestrained aggression and fits of youthful energy.

Made up of two-fourths No Trigger and one-fourth Shock Nagasaki -- two Northeast acts that would seem to come from very different sides of the punk spectrum -- Smartbomb convenes in Worcester, MA with a sound that doesn’t exactly blend the melodic hardcore / skatepunk of the former with the throwback pogo street punk of the latter. However, to peg Smartbomb with a sound would be erroneous in itself, as their style has shifted slightly (but noticeably to the astute listener) from one release to the next. While their debut was more or less an anarchic frenzy of hardcore punk, Diamond Heist is not as easily classifiable.

For one, the album has much more of a Boston punk feel. This may be due to producer Jim Siegel (Dropkick Murphys, the Unseen, Blood for Blood), but it may also be thanks to vocals from Eric Widing that for some reason now sound almost identical to Far from Finished frontman Steven Neary. The band also experiments a tad more, with a punk interpretation of a Ventures’ surf tune, and some upstroke ska thrown into Smartbomb’s cover of the evidently timeless Isham Jones / Gus Kahn classic “See You in My Dreams.”

However, there’s still plenty of the frantic hardcore and skatepunk variety. Sprinting off the starting blocks is the album’s catchiest track, the fiercely outspoken “Barely Legal”: “Sign ‘em up and shave their heads and ship them off to die / […] / When you’re barely eighteen you’re too preoccupied / Too young to question why / […] / I’m alright if you’re alright, I pledge no allegiance to this fact / I am proud, and it’s my job to keep thinking out loud.” The similarly pointed and similarly catchy “Who’s the Terrorist Now” follows suit with a choral nod to U2’s “Sunday, Bloody Sunday,” while “Lesson Learned” blinks by in a matter of seconds, though not before calling out the (2008) totalitarian government and calling on listeners to “revel in the urgency of now.” “Crucial Times” not only sounds like it could be the name of an ‘80s hardcore band, but the song actually flirts with such a sound, at least with its gritty guitar intro and frenetic chord patterns.

Though somewhat amusing, “Avoid the Lloyd” comes off as more of a personal vendetta than the universal antagonist for which it aims, while “Worcester, MA” isn’t bad by any means, but lacks the incisive, inclusive message of songs like “Blood and Sand” and the greater part of the album in lieu of a more local appeal. Still, there’s plenty to like about Diamond Heist. Though lacking the uninhibited aggression and brevity of Chaos and Lawlessness, Smartbomb substitutes in catchiness and accessibility for a solid sophomore effort.

RockFreaks.net

Every now and then an album arrives that pushes every single right button, an album that has exactly the kind of sound I've narrowed down as my very favorite over the years I've been doing this job. Smartbomb's debut album "Diamond Heist" is that album, and hence you can expect a fair amount of bias to be present in this review. But even with the removal of bias, most people familiar with melodic hardcore / punk rock should be able to agree with me that this is one of the best, if not the very best, release(s) to come out of this genre in the last couple of years, on par with seminal records like Strike Anywhere's "Change Is A Sound", A Wilhelm Scream's "Career Suicide", Pennywise's "About Time" or Lifetime's "Hello Bastards".

"Barely Legal" kicks off the album not only with fucking awesome riff/chord interplay at breakneck speed, but more importantly with vocalist Eric Widing's immeasurably great vocal work. Trust me on this one, you'll seldom hear as powerful, yet so fully melodic and full-of-warmth vox as he's able to deliver throughout the entire album. He sounds devilishly fiery and pissed off, but yet somehow manages to keep that intensity at a level where it's still ultra melodic and -catchy. He's one of the most passionate vocalist's I've heard on record, you can think of him as a perfect cross between Strike Anywhere's Barnett and A Wilhelm Scream's Pereira, using the best qualities from both vocalists into his advantage. His greatness comes through especially on "Lesson Learned", where his extended "Leeeeessssooooon leaaaaaaaaarned" yells will guaranteed make a mark in your mind for months to come.

I could continue by naming more highlights on the album, but that's kind of pointless when every single song on the album is as close to perfection as you can be in this genre. Each song is distinctly different, the choruses are nothing short of incredible, and the intensity level is at a level only the best can achieve throughout. Or well, except for the only long track on the album, "PCH (Intermission)", the Rolling Stones inspired (though punk'ed up) instrumental piece lasting just over three minutes, which really breaks the entire album in half, and the NOFX-inspired reggae/ska-ish intro "In My Dreams", which is pretty boring until the gas pedal is glued to the floor around 1 minute into the song.

But after that, you get three more tracks of melodic hardcore godhood. In the end, the album has raced by you in just under 25 minutes, which might seem short on paper, but it's really the ideal length for this album. It's bloody intense and a rewarding album, that only seems to be getting better and better even with repeat listens in the 20s already. Mark my words, "Diamond Heist" will be referenced to in countless reviews in the future, where it'll be named as one of the classics in the genre, as a great example of how you don't have to be particularly original to be brilliant. 9/10

SkylinePress.net

Back when Smartbomb's latest EP "Chaos And Lawlessness" hit the stage in early 2008, it was given several listens to see if it could sway my opinion towards either good or bad. Unfortunately the short EP was a little boring even though it spoke in true punk fashion. This time around we are privy to their first full length "Diamond Heist" which promised to be an upgrade from their previous release.

Right from the start, improvements were noticed from almost all elements. A producer can either help or hurt a CD in many ways and having Jim Siegel (Dropkick Murphys, The Unseen) as producer on the project made this album a whole new album. Where a slew of speedy riffs and awkward throaty growls once stood, we are left with a clearer, more Rancid(if you can call that clear)-like sounding band. The riffs are still quick, but they aren't sloppy like the previous EP. The vocals are more manageable now because time is take out to sound out the words (I guess so we don't think they are drunk).

The lyrics still stand strong, filled with anti-flag spiels and political anthems shouted for all to hear. The one thing I did enjoy about their EP, as well as "Diamond Heist" is the honest and true unchanged punk atmosphere created with their music. This could fly now just as well as it could when punk emerged decades ago. That being said, the album is also criminally short, clocking in at about 22 minutes for a 12 track endeavor. Yea punk is a violent and quick display of protest but if I'm shelling out my hard earned bucks(I wish I had some of these) then it better be for an album that can outlast an episode of the Simpsons.

Besides that, much progression has been made to the band that was once called "No Trigger’s side project." And while the swift and political punk rock isn't something to listen to everyday, Smartbomb has cleaned up nice for their debut "full"-length.

WayTooLoud.com

Smartbomb had an EP released earlier in the year that sounded like some hyper kids trying to fit in with the skate-punks and hardcore bands of California. Fun, but a little messy. For their debut full-length, “Diamond Heist”, they’ve completely cleaned up the sound production and created an almost perfect combination of speed, adrenaline and melody.

Right from the start the music has an intense quality that every punk album should have with speedy guitar and drum interaction and energetic hooks. Eric Widing’s vocals are definitely one of the most distinct in today’s punk era– very close to Strike Anywhere’s Thomas Barnett with the harmonic voice jumps. There’s definitely a sense of anger in his voice but it’s kept back as he lets the lyrics do all the screaming.
Which brings us to the lyrics, and with song titles like “Barely Legal” and “Avoid The Lloyd” the band gives off a humorous impression. But while there is some random humor mixed through the album, most of the lyrics are all but laughable. “Barely Legal” talks about all the kids who are shipped off to war without being old enough to question why, while the hardcore influenced “Crucial Times” has a political agenda to make people think for themselves and deals with the “propaganda machine… whether it be communism or the most modern terrorism”, definitely thought provoking and catchy with the “Hey! These are crucial times!” gang chant at the end.

An advantage to “Diamond Heist” is the array of sounds this No Trigger side project has, from the white-boy reggae intro on “In My Dreams”, an amusing twist to keep your attention, to the daring, yet catchy, three-minute intermission. For the flipside, the only thing I have a problem with is the fade-out at the end of “Blood & Sand”; there’s no reason for a fading out in punk rock, leave that for the radio friendly. But with that said, Smatbomb’s solid knowledge of the punk way of life will certainly win over fans of the genre. 4.5/5

PunkBands.com

Why doesn't this type of pop punk still exist in widespread media? Fast tempos, quick guitar strumming, and a chorus that is sung at the same speed as the verses, Smartbomb brings back a style that was around in 2002 and 2003.

It could almost be on the border of speed punk (think Bigwig) on some levels but overall, Smartbomb has put out a solid release. Listening to this release in the car, the high energy carries through each song. It's sad that the release doesn't have more songs than the eleven that are included. Hopefully, Smartbomb will continue to release CDs that are as good as this or even better. Even if this is the bottom of the barrel for them, it still sounds a lot better than the mainstream "punk" bands that are in the media today. If things remain circular, bands like Smartbomb will become popular in the mainstream without having to change themselves.

The recording and final mix of the CD is done well. I only wish the bass was a little more prevalent in the songs. I can hear everything else without any trouble, but the bass is a little passive. The drum kit recording is one of the best I've ever heard; there aren't any echoes or lost beats in any of the songs. The vocals also impress, each syllable is distinct and clear, even if you can't understand everything that's being sung. There just aren't any faults with this release; it continues the great trend of pop punk as it should be.

It's time for punk to reclaim its name from the bands that call themselves punk in the eyes of big corporate media. Smartbomb is on the forefront of this trend, bringing back the music to where it should be played and at the best speed possible. Punk is all about emotion and Smartbomb has plenty of it. 4/5

RebelNoise.com

This the way songs should be...12 songs in under 25 minutes. Hell Yeah! And Smartbomb throws alot of music at ya in those 25 minutes.

Fast, furious and catchy. These 4 guys know how to put it together. A rush of guitars, bass, drums and smart vocals push through these 12 songs and make me wanna shout.

"Who's the Terrorist Now?" Indeed, I think we all know by now who those bastards are. So if you're feeling down about how we're all getting ground down by the greedheads and you have 30 minutes, I would suggest dropping this disc in a player and cranking it to 10!

This is the only Smartbomb we should ever know. So let's go...really fast...

5/5

East Coast Romper

Hardcore punk that starts off with both guns blazing then cools down after the "intermission". Fast catchy riffs lay down the foundation for smokin' tracks like Who's The Terrorist Now ? and (my favorite) Crucial Times. Had this been cut down to an EP it would've been brilliant. Don't get me wrong, it's still above average and worth checking out.

EvilNeedles.com

For years there's been a gap in the punk scene. Bands like TSOL, Bad Brains, and the Descendents pumped us all up, wrote songs to make mix tapes with, and gave us logos to doodle on our notebooks. But the true punk herd is thinning as the ranks of goofy, glam inspired pop punk are growing. Smartbomb is one of a rare breed of true punk bands that can
fill the void. They play punk for punks. With snotty vocals, fast drums and simplistic guitars - none of which are over produced or sissyfied - these guys shoot from the hip and deliver a slightly crusty, always aggressive sound. If you're familiar with TKO records and their brand of punk you'll be glad to know one of the guys from Shock Nagasaki is in this band.

Alternative Press

Smartbomb's members have done time in No Trigger and Shock Nagasaki, and you can hear their influence in Smartbomb's melodic hardcore/punk sound (specifically No Trigger). However, Diamond Heist is more a decent slab of less melodic purely raw speed that rocks a little bit more like old Descendents records, the Unseens's brighter mombents (what's up, "Worcester, MA"?) or the now defunct New Mexican Disaster Squad. The problem is, Smartbomb pale in comparison to the songwriting talents of those bands; what's consequently left is superb background punk rock in need of more dynamism, chord changes, vocal inflection...anything to further break up the songs. Admittedly, late efforts like their ruggedly fun cover of Louis Armstrong's "In My Dreams", the EpiFat-nodding "My Wicked Mind" and multi-part closer "Undercurrents" keep Smartbomb's heads above water.

PunkGlobe.com

Snotty fast fun punk rock coming from Worester MA. Featuring members of No Trigger and Shock Nagaski and produced by Jim Siegel. SmartBomb are now not just a side project and are jumping into the frontlines as a MAJOR BAND playing endless amounts of shows and tours. The music can be compared to NOFX or The Descendents with a sprinkling of Screeching Weasel.

Punk Music Reviews

In today's punk soundscape everyone seems to play some variant of the age old genre. Pop-punk, skate-punk, street-punk, cabaret-punk, horror-punk... and the list goes on. Few bands avoid the hyphen, opting for sounds generally described as modern "updates" to the genre. And while inter-genre convergence celebrates various musical styles and influences, bands buying into these trend tends to under-appreciate the power of straight-up "punk." Evidently Worcester, Massachusetts' Smartbomb recognized this reality and has dutifully provided us with an instant classic to fill this void. Playing in a familiar, but very neglected, unhyphenated-punk, their full length debut, "Diamond Heist," instantly reminds its listeners of the passion that gave punk music its original draw.

While there are certainly hyphenated influences scattered throughout the album, the traditionally fast tempo and vocal range (that narrowly avoids degrading into a growl) ground the album in an unmistakably "punk" foundation. Songs like "Who's The Terrorist Now" and "Worchester, MA" sound unmistakably influenced by the unyielding drum beats and fast but simple guitar chords of early Anti-Flag and The Unseen. Because of its rock solid punk core when the band subtly draws upon various other schools of punk they momentarily enhance their sound rather than jeopardize their foundation. For example, "Crucial Times" ends with a slower, street-punk influenced backdrop featuring a crowd shouting the track's title. Because this marks the sub-genre's lone appearance, the shouting harnesses street-punk's inherent political conscious, successfully highlighting the song's urgent call for political change. Other songs like "Second View" contain tinges of early Decedents pop-punk, while the slightly smoother vocals on tracks like "Barely Legal" and "Avoid the Lloyd" instantly garner comparisons to 90's melodic skate-punk.

For the album's second half the band slows down the tempo (although still fast by contemporary standards) after a well executed "Intermission." During the first half of the album the tracks never really stop but seamlessly blend together. Consequently, the 23 seconds of pseudo silence (listening carefully reveals ocean waves) commencing the intermission make the slower, punk-rock influenced, bass heavy intermission quite powerful. The "Intermission" also helps ease the listener into the album's second half's more experimental tone. Following the intermission, "In My Dreams" throws a curve ball by introducing barely audible female backing vocals and a very "bouncy" beat. The final track, "Undercurrents," even throws in a couple rock inspired guitar solos and some bass work that wouldn't sound out of place in a punkabilly tune. Throughout the entire album socially conscious lyrics call for change. The lyrical continuity also helps bind the later more experimental tracks with the more traditional songs that define pre-intermission "Diamond Heist."

All together, Diamond Heist provides a pleasant surprise for those of us yearning for new bands who pay respect to unhyphenated "punk." For this, Smartbomb delivers in spades and will likely find itself in heavy rotation on my playlists.

Razorcake

I reviewed their last release just two months ago and I must say; this one complements it quite well. It’s an enjoyable experience following a band from their start and watching them grow. This release makes me hope that I’m able to keep watching them until their final moments, which, if this CD is any implication, will be epic. This one has more of a melodic influence then previous releases and the single best moment on the record is the song “Blood and Sand.” Keep it up, guys.