Review: Grim Deeds and the P.O.P.K – “Down In Flames”

OUTLOUD! Records, 22 Nov 2022

Grim Deeds and the P.O.P.K rework some old stuff and craft some new stuff on the new Down In Flames.

Grim Deeds keeps us busy with his consistent output.  New songs arrive nearly as frequently as the sunrise and sometimes he collects the songs into EP’s or full-length releases.  Every once in a while, he even collaborates with another musician or band.  So it goes on Down In Flames, a new album recorded with the mysterious The Pissed Off Preacher’s Kids (P.O.P.K).  On it, the collaborative effort takes on 12 total songs, including 6 new ones and 6 re-recorded and previously released Deeds’ songs.

Down In Flames isn’t a concept album, but it is certainly thematic.  Song titles including “How Did Things Get So Far Out of Hand?”, “Human Misery”, “Suffer Endlessly”, and “Dumb Things Never Change” hint at a good many existential crises addressed within.  Reading almost like a more sophisticated Black Flag lyrics sheet updated for the modern age, songs batter the human condition song after song.  Lines like “your days are hindered by frustration / you just can’t reckon with the truth” (from It’s Not Enough”), “not interested in the bullshit you’re feeding me” (from “I’m Not Interested”) and “I never wanna see your face again, because I fucking hate you” (from “I Never Wanna See Your Face Again”) do the dirty work of conveying a nihilistic-type message that demonstrates a hard-headed yet persistent perceived reality and a loss of hope.  Sure, maybe it’s not a perception of reality that’s all that exciting to hear, but the lyrics are smart and clever and delivered with a smirk and an angst that works.

Down In Flames wraps the feel good nuggets in high energy pop punk rock.  The previously released Deeds songs hold pretty tight to the original templates with some palpable electricity coursing through the veins of these songs.  P.O.P.K plays admirably, with buzzing guitars, melodic bass bursts, and drum fills that bounce and snap with aplomb and spirit.  Deeds lends his signature sorta-snotty but highly melodic lead vocals to 6 of the songs (with P.O.P.K backing him up) and P.O.P.K’s Thomas William St. John growls his way through the other 6 with a phlegm-ridden angst while Deeds helps out the backing vocals.  A good number of the songs speed along at an impressive pace (“Breakfast of Champions”, “Human Misery”, “Ignorance Is Bliss”, It’s Not Enough”, “That’s Not My Name”, “Suffer Endlessly”, and “Dumb Things Never Change”), a few go by at a mid-tempo pace (“How Did Things Get So Far Out of Hand”, “I’m Not Interested”, “6 Feet Away”, “I Never Wanna See Your Face Again”), and one sways and swaggers to a confident downshift that makes for a pretty bouncy romp (“The Wrong Remains the Same”).  But the pacing works and the song-to-song tempo differences (along with the differing lead vocalists) keep the album fresh all the way through.

My favorite songs on Down In Flames mix up a couple of old favorites with a couple of new-to-me compositions.  “Breakfast of Champions” is an absolute gem of the former variety, with the vocal hooks jumping to the front and the newly added drum fills really adding to the vitality of the song.  Much the same could be said of “I’m Not Interested”, the NOFX-reminiscent “Ignorance Is Bliss”, and the punk blast “It’s Not Enough”.  Several of the P.O.P.K-led songs are among my favorites, too.  “How Did Things Get So Far Out of Hand?” plays around with cool lead guitar and a melodic bass that renders the despair in the song manageable and “I Never Wanna See Your Face Again” is a bratty number that reeks of anger and contrarian catchiness.  Closer “Dumb Things Never Change” shuts things down with a fast pace, a memorable melody, and a chorus that surprises me in a really good way.  

All-in-all, Down In Flames is a rollicking good time.  Lots of buzz and intensity throughout, coupled with thoughtful (and difficult) words, set to a Ramonescore foundation, makes for a really engaging listen.  If you’re a fan of Deeds previous songs, you’ll surely like this.  And though I’m admittedly ignorant of P.O.P.K, they’re now on my radar going forward as well.

Favorite song: “Breakfast of Champions”, “Dumb Things Never Change”

Favorite moment: the drum fills on “Breakfast of Champions” snap just right

Favorite whatever else: the album cover (made by Ole O’Brian) is eye-catching twisted fun