Strung Out is back with their seventh album and this time they take it personal. After releasing such masterpieces as “Twisted By Design” and “An American Paradox”, Simi Valley punks released some darker albums as “Exile In Oblivion”, and this time they are back with the new disc “Blackhawks Over Los Angeles”.

The new album differs from the previous ones because of strong, socially aware and politcally active lyrics, where singer Jason Cruz deals a lot with politics, the world of nowadays and social issues. While on older albums the band used to sing about personal topics, the new album is built on politics, starting from the cover artwork, design by Jason Cruz himself.

Such songs as “Calling” and “Party In The Hills” are seriously catchy, and they remind of the older, darker and melodic anthems, with a lot of guitar riffs, choruses and harmonic lines. The new political direction comes out on such tunes as “All The Nations” and “War Called Home” where the band talks about what’s happening in the world today, and these tunes are not happy.

“Orchid” is a strong, metallic and dark song that fuse the elements of “Teenage Wasteland Blues” with “An American Paradox” at its best, while “Dirty Little Secret” is a jam of guitar riffs and melodic breakdowns, maybe the most melodic song of the whole record, with some hints of piano in the background, but this feeling disappears immediately as “Downtown” appears.

Strung Out always put some awesome closing songs, and this time it’s not different: the closer “Diver” is a melodic punk anthem, where the super catchy choruses alternate to the metallic guitar riffs.

All in all, “Blackhawks Over Los Angeles” is a superb punk rock album by one of the most respactable band that’s been in the scene since the first 90’s. Recommended if you want to hear some kick ass powerful stuff.

Tracklist
1.Calling (Download MP3) (Download Video)     
2.Blackhawks Over Los Angeles             
3.Party in the Hills (Download MP3)        
4.All the Nations             
5.A War Called Home             
6.Letter Home             
7.Orchid             
8.Dirty Little Secret             
9.Downtown             
10.The King Has Left the Building             
11.Mission Statement             
12.Diver