Review: Fake Names – “Fake Names”

Epitaph Records – May 8, 2020

A supergroup that emphasizes “group” and comes up with something really worth hearing.

I want to be upfront about something. I hate the term “supergroup.” There’s a whole lot implied (short lived, dueling egos, and overall vanity) when this term is used. This isn’t to say that…sigh… “supergroups” can’t live up to the somewhat pretentious label. Fake Names has an impressive hardcore/punk lineage. Band members Brian Baker, Michael Hampton, Dennis  Lyxzén, and Johnny Temple have contributed to some of the most influential bands in hardcore (Minor Threat, Bad Religion, S.O.A., Refused, and Girls Against Boys to name a few). After listening to their self titled album a few times, I got the feeling that a lot of the negatives associated with the term “supergroup” didn’t really apply here. 

From the opening track “All for Sale” it sounds like this album was fun to make. In a band where the members bring so much history to the group, it is immediately clear that no one wanted to take center stage as the “superstar of the supergroup.” The guitars regularly compliment each other without any obvious attempts at grandstanding (“Darkest Days” and “Being Them” are clear examples of this). Johnny Temple’s bass, though not super heavy in the mix, is clearly there providing firm footing for the rest of the band, especially on “Darkest Days.”  Lyxzén’s vocals are natural and fit the tone of each song well. For more melodic tracks like “First Everlasting,” his vocals sound clear, natural, and brilliant. The inverse is true of heavier tracks like “Brick” and “This is Nothing” where anger and aggression come through. Throughout the album, it sounds like a cohesive band instead of one person stealing the show, which was really enjoyable to hear. 

Immediately after my first listen, I thought this felt like an album that was recorded in someone’s home studio. While that isn’t exactly right, the album’s origin as a demo seems pretty close. From checking the band bio on the Epitaph site, it’s clear that this fun/at home feel comes from the long standing friendship the guys in the band have. This is where the term “supergroup” falls short. Yes, every member has been successful on their own, but this isn’t them getting together in some sense of vanity or ego. It’s a group of old friends getting together and having a good time playing some really enjoyable songs. With that said, here’s hoping that the closing track “Lost Cause” isn’t self-referential, and that Fake Names will stick around for a while.